Learn a language for Travel blog - VLLC Language Courses

Language Tourism

5/10/2021

Many of us are currently making the most of COVID and the lack of travel and are getting ready when we can travel abroad again. The thought of not being able to talk and even ask for the simplest thing is always a frustrating and unhappy event. When travelling to a foreign country the inability to communicate, even in the simplest form can be frustrating and unhappy event. When tourists have had such experiences because of a lack of the local language, even though their overall tourism experience was great, the first thing they are going to report back home is the unpleasant fact of being unable to communicate. Some try to overcome this by a reliance technology as a substitute for learning the language. Even if folks do not like talking to a machine, although it may help for the moment, this dependency can easily disappoint due to a lack of supporting WIFI or app, leaving you unable to get what is needed!

Two of the most spoken languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. This is the reason they are the most popular to learn. There is a growing realisation that it pays to match certain career skills with a language. Although it takes a lifetime to acquire mastery in engineering, accounting or say marketing It takes a lifetime to become a master’s in engineering, Accounting or even Marketing it takes so little time to learn a language. Most skills in any endeavour are improved by the valuable addition of a language, especially Mandarin or Spanish.

At VLLC we find that students learn languages for many reasons, the main being:

Professional development: foreign languages give individuals a competitive advantage in today's global environment;
Employability: The individual becomes more employable if in possession of a foreign language and enables you to work elsewhere in the world, as well as work in international companies in this country which have a global presence.
Bridging cultures: The addition a foreign language in your repertoire opens the culture of the target country. The process becomes a tool to bridge gaps between cultures as well as of use in travel, negotiating trade deals etc.

Would you move overseas for love?

31/8/2021

Would you move overseas for love? Moving overseas for love is a massive commitment, but it becomes very tempting when the unromantic Skype session and email just don't cut it. When you date someone, and you both have different passport countries, you must consider at some point that one of you will have to move to the others country if your relationship is to move forward. There are pros and cons about moving across the world for the one you love.

One of the pros of moving overseas for the one you love is that it is an adventure and you won't have regrets that you didn't at least try. You wouldn't want to miss the once in a lifetime opportunity to be with "the one" and if you actually make the sacrifice to move you will eliminate any regret. Don't they say that it is better to have love and lost than to never love at all?

One of the negatives of moving overseas to be with your loved one is that you will initially be totally dependant on your partner until you settle in and create your own niche. You will be unaccustomed to your surroundings, you wont see familiar faces, food can be different and you generally won't feel as comfortable. To eliminate some of this issue you could learn the language before you go?

Another bonus of moving overseas is that you get to experience a new country and culture and you can tick that off your bucket list. Sometimes though the feeling of not ever truly belonging may eventually get to you.
You can learn a lot about yourself when you are completely out of your comfort zone and you will be amazed at how your relationship could bloom now that there is no more long distance. Alternatively you could freak out and think "what have I done?"

If you have learnt the language and culture before you go you may find that you have an increased access to job opportunities as obviously the language barrier would prevent you from getting a job other than maybe teaching English (which you may enjoy).

Happy endings are never assured in any relationship, but if you can look back on your life with no regrets, then you have succeeded. Is it worth moving overseas for love? Only you can be the judge of that.

Why learning the local language should be a part of your holiday preparation...

24/8/2021

The importance of being multilingual should not be overlooked by frequent travellers (when we can travel once more). It becomes essential in some parts of the globe, just like your passport or mobile. Learning a new language reaps benefits beyond the reach of tourist maps, guides etc… Books and internet are of no use when you have to negotiate prices with a street vendor who doesn’t speak your native tongue.
There are many official excuses about why you should avoid learning a few foreign languages. Most excuses include being too busy or too lazy. Nevertheless, we have come up with a few reasons why you shouldn’t excuse yourself from enriching your travel experience through leaning a language.

Learning any foreign language is easy: Learning any foreign language with VLLC is much easier than it sounds. It can be accomplished much more quickly than you expect. The key is to know what you want. You don’t have to be proficient enough to write poetry and you don’t have to be intimidated by the strange looking alphabets and never ending grammatical rules. For starters, you don’t have to be fluent in the language to survive in any country. The ability to communicate and have a decent understanding of the language goes a long way. Learning a language specifically for travel can include relevant vocabulary in a short period of time is really possible with VLLC.

Learning local language makes life easy: When you speak their language, you can have a far more valuable experience with the locals. Knowing how to order food and drinks at hotels alone can save you money. It’s logistically easier to navigate a city through trains, buses or walking, when you know some basics in the language. You can also protect yourself from scams more readily if you speak their language as you do when you speak only English. Being able to speak the local language helps you to be accepted more readily for the most part. Not looking like an Uber-tourist in any foreign land has its benefits. Learning a few words to enable you to ask for directions doesn’t demand too much preparation.

Language is the gateway to culture: If you have ever tried learning a foreign language, you would know language isn’t the only thing you would absorb. Along with the language, you would learn some history and culture of the country. Even being able to read a passage in a short story would open your mind to various aspects of culture or folklore. Some cultural values would appeal to you and stay forever. Difference in the depth of understanding of a poem or story would vary with the way you learn it. Reading mere translations and reading the original passage would show the difference. Foreign music can also take your experience to a whole new level.

Local language keeps loneliness at bay: It’s common to feel lonelier when you are away from home. Homesickness can creep in subtly. When you know the language, you can make friends more easily. Sharing a story is a lot better than just a smile. Developing lasting relationships in a safe and pleasant manner can be a real life changing experience. Knowing the local language gives you more options to do something interesting than just following the run of mill tourist plan. Your ability to experience local life in a new country would increase dramatically. There wouldn’t be any need to resort to the lonely international traveller lifestyle.

Learning reflects your gratitude and courtesy: Leaning the local language makes you appear more interested and courteous toward the locals. It shows the respect you have for foreign countries’ and their people. When visiting a country, you need to learn at least some basic language, out of respect. The benefits of learning a new language are far more reaching than you think. New language rewards you with new acquaintances and memories. Contact VLLC for more information on how you can prepare for your next overseas trip.

Some top things to see and do in an Arab country..

13/7/2021

The Arab world has become one of the top tourist destinations in recent years. Known for its great transport connections, the airlines have really opened up this part of the world, and with high-quality hotels having outstanding service, there is a lot to see and do. There is even more to do when you speak Arabic.

Swim with the Dolphins in Dubai. A top attraction for many in Dubai is to get up close with one of the most majestic and mesmerising animals on earth. Swimming with the Dolphins in Dolphin Bay in Dubai has to be a bucket list item for many people, and this is surely one of the best places in the world to achieve this dream.

The Burj Khalifa Dubai. This is not just a top ten of the Arab world but a top ten of the entire world. At 828m tall, The Burj Khalifa is the tallest building in the world. There are 160 stories in this outrageously tall building and tours to the very top are a popular tourist attraction. From the top one get perhaps the best view anywhere in the Middle East but if you suffer from vertigo it is perhaps not the place to visit.

Museum of Islamic Art, Doha. There are multiple reasons to visit this spectacular and unique museum. The museum is an immaculately collated collection of Islamic art and History. With impressive Georgian rugs, restored and preserved remnants of Damascan palaces as well as relics and porcelain relics from across the ancient Islamic world there is a lot to take in. By learning to speak Arabic your tour of the museum will become more impressive as the Arabic language will enable you to understand what you are seeing better. However, there is another reason for visiting this outstanding museum and that reason is a few steps away in a courtyard. Here in the left-hand courtyard is arguably the best view oh Doha possible.

Dune Riding in a Buggy or on a quad bike. For those who seek a little more thrills and spills from their visit to Dubai, Doha or any one of the cities in the Arab world escaping to dunes is where to find it. Many Arab countries have turned their biggest natural resource, sand, into the ultimate adventure playground. Groups can be taken on dune tours in a large, luxury 4 x 4 but to experience the sand dunes up close one needs to bash through them in a buggy or on a quad bike. The sand dunes and it, of course, camels are iconic symbols of the middle east but hitting the dunes by buggy or bike has to be the top thing to do for anyone with a sense of adventure.

Speaking Arabic can open up many more places in the Arab world. Small coffee shops where local sit and while away the morning sun can open up an opportunity for conversation that lifts the cotton sheets on the almost mystical society. If there is one top thing to do in the Arab word then surely it must be to speak to an Arab in his native language.

Travelling alone and how to stay safe..

17/6/2021

Once you have decided you want to travel there are many things to consider. Should you travel alone, or go with someone else? What is it about travel that makes you happy? How much do you want to spend? Where do you want to go? How can you protect your identity whilst on the road? What should you pack? What type of accommodation should you book?

The benefits of travelling alone are that you get to do what you want, when you want. You can enjoy being with others or avoid them, and enjoying being completely alone. A part of travelling and visiting a foreign country is experiencing the local culture. The best way to do this is to know some language before you go. If you don't manage to do that, at least learn some important phrases to help you on your way. Below is a list I found on the wandersafe site (ref below).

https://www.wandersafe.com/20-words-that-will-keep-you-safe-when-traveling-solo/

Wandersafe states the following: "Before articulating the list, I preface that humans are humans no matter what they speak. A smile and sincere greeting is the first thing that you should do before every asking anyone for anything. It sets the scene for cooperation and engaging with someone. Consider your smile a five dollar note, everyone wants one and wishes more people were giving them away freely."
1. Know how to greet someone in their language including hello, good morning, good bye etc.
2. Use polite expressions such as please, thank you, excuse me
3. Learn how to say "I don't speak _________" or "how do you say ________ in ________________"
4. Directional phrases such as "Where is the _____________" or words for water and toilet and I'm lost.
5. "how can I get there?" Is there a dress code?"
6. Food and health related phrases such as "I am gluten free" or "Do you serve _________?" or "What is the expectation for tip giving?"
7. Safety questions such as "Is it safe for me to go?"

There are many safety precaution apps which can help keep you safe and family aware of your location. There are online communities and trust zones in most countries of the world. Having a travel plan and sticking to it is the best way to stay safe! While you are waiting until we can all travel again why not consider learning a language before you go? Contact us and we can help you get started on your language journey.

Why you should learn a language before you travel overseas.

25/5/2021

English is spoken as a first language by approximately three hundred fifty million people out of a global population of close to seven billion. Many English speakers seem to believe that wherever you go on holiday you can get by speaking English, so there’s no point in learning any other languages. If people don’t understand you all you have to do is speak slowly and turn up the volume. You can more or less get away with this, as long as you stick to popular tourist resorts and hotels where you can usually find someone who speaks English. However, Ludwig Wittgenstein said, “The limits of my language are the limits of my universe”. Who wouldn't want to be exposed to an unlimited universe?

However, if you want prepare for when we the international borders are reopened and to venture beyond such places, do more than just take photos and post them on social media, to get to know the locals, to read signs, menus, etc., knowing the local language is necessary and will make your travel experiences so much better. A basic ability in a foreign language will help you:

To enable you to safely navigate around your destination.
To immerse yourself in the culture more fully.
Enable you to meet people with very diverse life experiences and outlooks.
It will also ensure you can order food and drink, find your way around, buy tickets etc.
If you have a more advanced knowledge of the language, you can have real conversations with the people you meet, which can be very interesting and will add a new dimension to your holiday, you may even establish lifelong friendships.
Learning a foreign language can revolutionize your travel experience.

Bon voyage!!

It's all in the tones!

12/5/2021

At Chinese New Year, you will often hear the phrase "nián nián yŏu yú", meaning "may you have abundance every year". You will also see it written in Chinese calligraphy on scrolls which hang on walls and by doorways, accompanied by a picture of a golden carp. What is the connection? The word for "fish" is pronounced in the same way as the word for abundance: Both are yú. SO, if you were to hear someone say "nián nián yŏu yú", it could mean "May you have fish every year!!

For another example, wǒ xiǎng wèn nǐ, means I want to ask you - Simple enough. But, if you were to say wǒ xiǎng wěn nǐ, it would mean I want to kiss you! The only difference is the tone over the e in wen! That could be a bit scary LOL.

Altogether there are over 50,000 characters in Mandarin Chinese, however, a modern dictionary will only list about 20,000, and you only need to know approximately 2000 to be able to read a newspaper.

千里之行，始于足下 Qiān lǐ zhī xíng, shǐ yú zú xià

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step. Laozi, Daoist philosopher (6th Century BC)
One to bear in mind as you take your first steps in the Chinese language! Contact VLLC if you would like to take the Chinese language journey with us.

Indonesia: a place for business and leisure when you speak their language.

5/5/2021

Growing up, I had a friend whose father worked for an oil company in Jakarta. I knew little about the city or the country of Indonesia, I was at school and still in my early teens, but one thing I grasped very clearly was that to get ahead in Indonesia, being able to speak Indonesian was the key to everything. My friend spoke some Indonesian, I loved it when she did, but even the little she had, opened the wonderful country up to her and to this day she still has friends there because of being able to communicate.

Indonesia is an archipelago, and for the business or leisure traveller alike, is an amazing place to visit. Over the years the country has had its ups and downs, but it still maintains a strong economy and a vibrant tourist industry. In modern-day Indonesia, a growing number of people speak English, but like many Asian countries, a great deal of respect is found when someone of non-Indonesian origin speaks Indonesian.

With language, Indonesia, like any other country and its language, opens up in a manner that only those who have made an effort to learn a language will understand. Business opportunities increase, business transactions become more successful as the vital human connection, the so-called “click” comes through language. Being able to speak Indonesian allows a person to get down to the nitty-gritty of a project, contract or simple job. Like any language, there are innuendos and humour, and when speaking the language, these translate into confidence when doing business.

Language, in a strange way, can open our eyes to the way that Indonesians do business, and shows us many of the challenges that non Indonesian speaking business people may face. When you have the language, these challenges are either overcome, or simply disappear. Language, and being able to converse, is one of the most powerful business tools, far better than Google Translate that often loses the intrinsic meaning of the conversation.

While Indonesia is a superb country to do business with and language makes a big difference to the way business is done, the country is also a wonderfully diverse place to visit. By speaking Indonesian, even a business trip can soon become a lot more pleasurable as the real country, and its people open up. However, for the leisure traveller speaking Indonesian is one of the most amazing pieces of luggage you can carry.

Indonesia is a stunning country to visit, and speaking Indonesian allows a person to get under the skin of one of the most diverse and beautiful cultures on earth. Going beyond Bali, language opens up other amazing, less touristy places in one of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world. Language allows a person to converse with locals and often allows lesser known parts of the country to be discovered that can leave you breathless.

Just a quick Google of Indonesia will soon show a person just what Indonesia has to offer beyond nice beaches. Learning to speak Indonesian will take a person beyond the beaches and tourist hot spots, as well as the places and sights others cannot get to, and they soon become very accessible.

The longest city name in the world...

21/4/2021

Although the capital city of Thailand is known to the world as Bangkok, local people refer to it as Krung Thep but this is just a shortened version of the actual name which consists of 169 characters and makes for a challenging tongue twister after a few drinks. The full name is: Krungthepmahanakhon Amonrattanakosin Mahinthara Yutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udom Ratchaniwet Mahasathan Amonphiman Awatansathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukamprasit.
This roughly translates to:
City of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the nine gems, seat of the king, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Visvakarman at Indra's behest.
Just a little Thai trivia :)

Where to travel in 2021...

23/3/2021

With last year's pandemic ruling out international travel, when is it time to start looking to future travel? If you had to cancel or postpone a trip which was previously planned, you may start to consider when you will be able to travel again. It is the million-dollar question and the truth is, nobody knows. Where could you travel in 2021?
Travel will definitely look different once to pandemic is over, but this may not be such a bad thing. Cities that were once crowded will suddenly have a bit more room, though it is likely that many travellers will opt for more isolated escapes to avoid the crowds. Where should you travel in 2021?

Enjoy your own back yard. With borders opening up now is the time to see what Australia has to offer. There are plenty of adventures to be had in Australian towns and cities. Australia has a vast network of well-maintained roads and some of the most beautiful road trips in the world. There is beautiful coastlines such as the Great Ocean Road, driving across the desert to the Red Centre or just enjoying the lush towns and cities along the way. Train travel is also a convenient, affordable and scenic way to explore Australia.

An escape within the Southern Hemisphere is a trip to New Zealand. There appears to be a travel bubble with NZ so now may be the perfect time to finally explore Australia's neighbour. New Zealand holds plenty of appeal for its isolated escaped where crowds aren't an issue.

Travel to Botswana. Botswana is one of the African nations that has been least affected by Covid 19, thanks to a rapid response to close borders and enforce a nation-wide lockdown. Countries who have limited the spread and acted efficiently will be the popular first choice for travellers who are nervous crossing borders, but desperate for an escape. There are many great lodges in the Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert that are isolated and offer full-board for travellers.

According to the worldofwonderlust.com, other popular places would include Montenegro, Santorini, Austria, Namidia, Alberta, Slovenia, Provence and Norfolk Island. No matter what you do or wherever you go, keep safe, wear masks if necessary and wash your hands often. COVID will be here for some time but you can mitigate any risk by taking adequate precautions and continue to enjoy your experiences.