Apps for Traveling to a Country Where You Don’t Know the Language
Traveling to a foreign country to experience a new culture is an experience that everybody should have. Chances are, though, you do not speak every language on this planet. English is pretty widely spoken but you might encounter a situation in which you wish you knew the local language to some degree. The good news is that it is easier now more than ever before to learn a new language or communicate through a mobile device. Here are some ways to ease those nerves about encountering situations where you can’t communicate due to a language barrier.
Apps to Learn, Study and Practice Before You Go
- Duolingo – This is one of the most popular apps for learning a new language. It’s easy to see why it is popular – it is free and well designed. Duolingo teaches the language of your choice through different interactive activities. It breaks down the language into different topics to give you a great start to learning a language. To me, this is a great way to learn the basics of a language. You are able to learn useful phrases and object names. Learning full conversational skills is something that you are not able to completely accomplish with this app but with the use of other resources this is the perfect way to start your path of speaking a new language.
- Babbel – This is another popular app, but this one you will have to pay for full access. If you are serious about learning the language, this is worth the $5-$10/month. Babbel will teach you the conversational skills that Duolingo fails to fulfill. The lessons will teach you grammar rules that you will be able to apply in real-life scenarios.
- Tandem – Tandem will take your new language skills to the next level by connecting you with an actual native speaker. The app will connect you to someone who shares your interests and will give you conversation prompts to start a conversation. The app is free as long as you are able to be connected to a partner. This is a great way to become fluent in conversational language and be confident for your next trip.
Translation Apps to Help in a Foreign Country
- Google Translate – The Google Translate app can be one of your best friends while traveling to a foreign country where you don’t understand the language. It features different abilities that should be able to help you out in any situation. One of the best features is the translator utilizing your cell phones camera. Simply point your camera at a sign or menu and the app will almost instantly translate the image into your desired language. You can also speak, type or draw what you need translated and it will be converted into the desired language. The words can also be spoken aloud in the foreign language to communicate with a cab driver or waiter/waitress. The app has other features that you can check out and use however you see fit. This is a very useful app that any traveler should simply download to their phone.
- iTranslate Voice – This is a very useful app that will translate your conversation with a foreign language speaker. Simply speak into the phone and the app will translate and read aloud in the other language. This is very useful in having a casual one-on-one conversation. The app, unfortunately, isn’t free. It may be worth paying for it though if you want to lose the nervousness behind traveling to a foreign language speaking country.
- Microsoft Translator – This is an excellent fully-featured app that is free. It offers all of the same features as the Google version. Check this app out to compare with Google Translate and see which app works better for you!
Nothing compares to fully learning a language before traveling to a new country. You feel much more immersed into the culture, but this just isn’t possible for everyone’s busy lives. Luckily, we have excellent technology that fits into our pockets to help traveling become much easier. Check out these apps and find one that works for you!
Share your comments below!
Hey thanks for sharing this article, I found the apps very useful and appreciate you sharing this resource, I am a global traveler myself and really feel that I will benefit from using these apps, I look forward to sharing them with others too, great work, appreciate it very much, James
Great post, thanks. I have always been afraid to go into countries with foreign languages unless I am with a party of some kind that has a guide who speaks the language. These apps give another option so that it would be easier to get around in a country where you don’t speak the lingo. I don’t actually particularly enjoy learning new languages formally so I think I would use iTranslate quite a bit, it seems like a very useful tool. Thanks for the heads up!!
Hey, I enjoy a lot while reading your article and find it very useful for everyone. Now I found the good news is that it is easier now more than ever before to learn a new language or communicate through a mobile device. Here are some ways to ease those nerves about encountering situations where we can’t communicate due to a language barrier. Thanks for sharing such useful guide.
Hello, I really didn’t know much about these until now. However, I was in Japan last year, alone and I got lost on the train system for 2 hours! Thankfully I finally found someone to help me out… but next time I go…I’m SO buying one of these! I can’t get lost twice. Thanks for sharing
I was an English language teacher in Japan for 8 years, so I was delighted to come across your article.
It would be great if there was a device that could listen in two languages and transcribe in both languages. So that anything said in either language is printed in both languages simultaneously. Is there anything like that? Do those translation devices do this? What if the local person wants to say anything to clarify or qualify what you’ve said?
Babbel sounds really good. Tandem sounds good but I suspect you would need to be upper-elementary/lower-intermediate to use it. I suppose you could use Tandem for a while first – I assume it has an audible pronunciation feature.
These apps are extremely useful. Is awareness of their existence is very high? If not, you have done an excellent job of increasing awareness. Before I left for Japan, I tried to learn Japanese out of a textbook. Bad idea, the pronunciation examples were for Americans (I’m Australian); this didn’t occur to me at the time so I got confused and gave up very shortly after I started. You guys don’t speak English properly. It’s “socks” not ‘sarks” for Pete’s sake! My “a” sound was wrong. When I first tried to speak Japanese to the Japanese female staff where I worked, They would run away screaming with their hands over their ears.
That first paragraph was very funny because almost all native Americans and Australians only speak English. These devices are great because comminating in another language is really cool. Also being capable avoids a lot of very awkward situations… been there done that. On my second day in Japan, I was trying to explain the word pillow. It wasn’t long before I had drawn a crowd of confused looking Japanese people. Finally, a Japanese girl who could speak English came along; the pillow was there at the checkout girl’s feet. Or using a soft “g” when hard “g” is the only one used. (I-na-ge, as in Inagay, not Inarge – terrible confusion with some school girls no a platform at a train station.
You sound authoritative, and your article was interesting and useful.