Language Trainers Blog

Every now and again I come across a word (usually online) that I’m not 100% sure of.  If it seems like a ‘legitimate’ word, I’ll look it up on dictionary.com, or OneLook (which searches multiple online dictionaries).  If it seems like new slang or a buzzword I’ve never heard of, I’ll usually go to Urban Dictionary.

The only problem I find with Urban Dictionary (besides that occasionally I find out about fairly disturbing words and concepts) is that it relies completely on user submissions.  While this keeps it really up-to-date, and people can vote submissions up or down, it means that you might not get very reliable (or well-written) information.

MacMillan Dictionary has come up with a pretty good midway point between an official online dictionary, and a user-submission based one.  Open Dictionary takes user submissions, but they are vetted and approved by MacMillan before they are published online.  At the moment there aren’t too many submissions, but I feel like that won’t last too long.  To find out what words like tweath and glamping mean, check it out.

What is the minimum amount of language you should learn for a trip abroad, or a relocation?  Is it the most common 100 or 500 words in a language?  Is it a set number of phrases, or is there a set list?  Reaching a ‘survival level’ of language skill will mean different things to different people.

Of course, your requirements will depend on a lot of things.  If you are going to a place where it is common for locals to have at least an elementary English speaking skill, you may only need to learn pleasantries in order to show respect and enthusiasm for their local culture and language.  Many people are more than happy to hear a traveller say hello, please, thank you, and goodbye in the local language.

To go a little bit further than this, I would recommend learning basic numbers (1-10, 10s to 100, 1000, etc), excuse me/sorry, yes and no, this and that, the phrases how much and I want/don’t want [something], and words for basic food and drink (e.g. beef, chicken, rice, water, beer).

A very important question is, of course, Do you speak English? You could always ask in English, but, you’d be surprised at how much people are more likely to help you if you ask in their language.  Also, it’s less confusing for them if the answer is no.  You could also learn direction words such as left, right, straight ahead.  The problem with knowing how to ask for directions is that you have to be able to understand the response!  Although most people gesture with their hands, so it’s not quite so difficult.  Oh, and don’t forget to learn the word for toilet!

If you have any special needs (e.g. dietary or medical), it might pay to learn some phrases associated with these (e.g. I don’t eat meat.).  Because sometimes these things can be complicated, I would really recommend having a phrase book or a printed copy of the details in the local language as well.  The same goes for emergency phrases like help and I need a doctor.  Even if you never need them, it’s always safer to have a backup if people can’t understand you.

If you are short on time, don’t worry too much about small talk.  Probably the best sentence to know is I’m from [home country]. Then wait for the inevitable ‘ah, kangaroos!’ or ‘Lord of the Rings!’

What are your must know phrases when you go abroad?

I have an upcoming trip to Europe, and will be spending a little bit of time in Italy.  I’ve been there before, and had very very minimal Italian to rely on to get me around (surprisingly few Italians speak English, you know).

So today I was trying to think of as many Italian phrases as I could, especially for useful things like buying food and train tickets.  I really couldn’t remember much, so I will definitely need to brush up a little bit before I go.

The funny thing is, whenever I couldn’t think of the words in Italian, the first thing that came to mind was the phrase in Mandarin, not English.  Mandarin is what I’m learning at the moment, and it’s currently the foreign language I know the most of, so I think my brain is just shuffling through all the foreign words it knows, because it knows I don’t want English.

The same thing happened to me while I was living in Turkey, trying to speak Turkish.  When I couldn’t find the words, my brain gave them to me in Cantonese, which at the time was my best foreign language.

I find it really interesting to see what the brain does, and what coping mechanisms it has (e.g. the time-saving strategy of not even bothering to provide options in my native language).  Has anyone else had this happen to them with a third or fourth language?

I’ve always been one of those people who feels like I need to go through a museum from one end to the other and read all the placards, and the same compulsion seems to carry over to my language learning sometimes.  I’ll pick up a textbook and feel like I need to start from the very beginning, even when I know I’ve covered that material before.

It depends on the publisher and the content of course, but don’t be afraid to skip around the book and pick out the chapters or parts that are the most useful for you.  Most courses these days seem to structure their material around situational dialogue, and these will mostly be introducing specific vocabulary and grammar points depending on the topic.  There’s no correct order to learn a language in (besides the very basics), so while you may need to refer back to look at specific language points, it makes sense to focus on the situations that are relevant, or the ones you’re interested in.

In the same vein, if you have a personal tutor, feel free to mention the situations you feel are most urgent for you to learn, or the topics that you are interested.  Most good teachers will be more than happy to include your input in their teaching plans.  Just ask!