Brush Up on a New Language

Sure, you can diligently memorize vocabulary lists or practice saying phrases you’ll never use. But if you’re trying to improve your language skills before visiting somewhere, you have more creative options. Try these ideas to get a handle on the language before heading out.

Join a Meetup group. Meetup.com is a great way to connect with others who want to practice their conversation skills and to meet with people who are willing to converse with you in their native tongue. Best of all, it’s free.

Listen to music. Jamming to tunes from the country you’re visiting helps your ear begin to recognize the sounds, while looking up the translated lyrics can help you learn new vocabulary. Plus, you’ll be culturally in-the-know when you arrive. Sites like Songza make it easy to find music from different regions.

Watch TV. Really! Being exposed to the sounds of the language at a normal speed — and not super slow like is often taught in classes — is great to help your ear start recognizing sounds and words. If possible, watch kids’ shows or soap operas. Thanks to the exaggerated acting, these both have storylines that are easy-to-follow, whether you understand what’s being said or not. Netflix and Hulu both have a decent selection of foreign language entertainment.

Look up common phrases for you. While some phrases are always useful to know (“Hello,” “thank you,” “please” and “where is the bathroom?” come to mind), practice words and phrases that will help you. For example, if you’re a vegetarian, it’s good to know how to ask if there is meat in a dish. But it’s even better if you can learn how to read and say the words to chicken, beef and pork, too. This type of word association will stick in your mind better and expand your vocabulary at the same time.