How to Learn a New Language by Yourself for Traveling

With international travel comes new surroundings, different cultures, and lots of different languages. While it would be pretty impossible to become fluent in every native language of every country you visit, learning the basics of a new language will go a long way.

Locals appreciate your effort when they can tell you’ve been practicing their native language. It is better to try, put the effort in, and make mistakes than just go in not knowing a single word of the language.

Maybe you're planning a trip to Italy and want to avoid a language barrier? So what are the top language learning tips? Let’s take a look at the best tried and tested tips for learning a new language.

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How to Learn a New Language by Yourself

There are several different options when it comes to learning a language by yourself. From apps to websites, it can be overwhelming to find the best language learning tips and options.

Learning a new language by yourself doesn't need to be stressful. There are many apps to choose from, and possibly local opportunities for you to practice. Let’s dive into the top language learning tips.

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Start With Basics

• Download Duolingo

• Find kids' books at your public library

• Buy a beginner language workbook

The best way to learn the basics of a new language, especially if you have absolutely no experience in it, is to download Duolingo! This free app offers lessons in over 30 languages, so there is a good chance that the language you want to practice is on there.

While this app is educational and truly teaches you language skills, it is also super fun. It is set up like a game app and you can earn points, level up, and compete with friends.

This makes it super fun to start learning a new language. There are also several different lesson options, like a written quiz, spoken test, and listening lessons.

They have really amped up the app in recent years to make it the perfect way to start learning a new language! Plus, it is entirely free. If you fall in love with Duolingo, you can upgrade to a paid subscription if you plan on using it frequently.

And for my non-native English speakers who plan on visiting English-speaking countries, they offer an English test on Duolingo!

Another way to start practicing the basics of a foreign language is to find kids books written in those languages. They're often easy to read and understand what's happening thanks to the illustrations.

Public libraries are a great place to look for books for free. Or you can check out some cheap ones on Amazon and also find a beginner workbook in Spanish or Italian for example.

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Practice Speaking & Conversing

• Try Babbel language learning

• Find a local language exchange group (i.e. search on Facebook)

• Participate in a community language program (best in big cities)

After you have learned some basics of a new language, you want to start using them in your daily conversations. This can be harder if you don’t know anyone who knows or is also learning this language.

This is when you need to check out Babbel! This app-based language learning platform focuses on having real conversations to prepare you for what it would actually be like to speak with others in this new language.

While they have fewer languages to learn, it is still a great option for several different languages. And who knows, maybe you want to pick up yet another language!

Conversing in a new language is ultimately the best way to practice and learn it. Babbel offers different subscription levels, so you can pick the one that fits your needs best. Sadly it’s not free, but it is a relatively cheap option, and very reliable!

The best part about Babbel is that you get real-world conversation practice, but you don't have to get embarrassed about messing up in front of actual people. Which is totally normal and nothing to be scared of, but it can be difficult to get over for some people (aka perfectionists like me).

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Find People to Speak With

• Try Babbel language learning

• Find a local language exchange group (i.e. search on Facebook)

• Participate in a community language program (best in big cities)

This step might be harder to do while still at home. You might not necessarily know anyone who already knows the language you are trying to learn. We recommend looking online to find groups of people who also want to learn this language.

For example, search Facebook or Reddit for “Learning Spanish” or “French for Beginners” groups. You’ll be surprised at how many are out there! You can also p