#livelanguagelearning

Travelling can be addictive; especially if you have a wondering mind and you’re always thinking about the next place you’re going to visit.

As summer approaches, we’ve come up with the five essential items that we feel every traveller needs before they leave home! Just remember to add these to your checklist before you set off…

1: Backpack

This goes without saying - if you plan to explore different cultures and roam outside, you won’t want to drag your suitcase with you so bringing a backpack is the first essential item!

Having a backpack also means that your money and other valuables stay safe when hiking, climbing or doing any other outdoor activities.

You can also make use of separate compartments on the outside of your backpack for quick access when you need it for practicality!

2: Waterproof clothing

Depending on where you’re travelling to, this is essential especially if you’re exploring the outdoors on a daily basis. If you’re going to a tropical country, the weather can change rapidly; so if you already have waterproof clothing with you, you’re sorted!

Many waterproof jackets and trousers nowadays have small compartments too, so this helps keep your regular items safe, and provides quick access so you don’t have to search in your backpack.

3: Toiletry bag

Whether you’re staying in a hotel or a shared hostel with other travellers, keeping track of your toiletries and making sure nothing goes missing can be tricky!

Having a toiletry bag means that you can keep everything in one place, and avoids you having to keep buying new items every time you pack when it’s time to move to another place!

4: Language app on your phone

One aspect of travelling involves having a taste of different cultures and the language of each country you visit. This is never a bad thing until you have an emergency or struggle to get your point across to a native speaker.

If you have your phone on you, and you know you’ll be able to get an internet connection in the place you are visiting; then it’s a great idea to download a language app to help you on a daily basis with foreign languages that you’re likely to face. Live language learning is the best way to practice another language, especially when you’re out of your comfort zone!

Dictionaries and phrase books only go so far, because when it comes to a situation where you don’t know how to speak the language, you’ll have difficulty finding the phrase you need immediately unless you have access to a form of live language learning where you can get help from native speakers.

The best way to overcome this, is to download a free language app such as Lingo Online, which will instantly connect you with a native speaker from the country you’re in and they’ll be able to help you via a live video call when you need it the most!

5: Tissues

You never know when you need these, whether you have a cold or you’ve spilt yogurt on your clothes! Sometimes in public toilets they can run out of toilet roll, in which case you’re covered.

If you’re exploring the countryside, having tissues with you can be very handy, so don’t forget to pack them next time you go travelling!

At Lingo Online, we’re supporting people who enjoy roaming and exploring different cultures. Especially as the world is getting increasingly connected, and more opportunities to travel are appearing.

That’s why we’re making a free mobile app which allows you to instantly connect with a native speaker via LIVE video calls so you can learn another language!

To learn more about our progress with the mobile app, follow us on our website and social media pages below:

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Many people who have already learned foreign languages tend to find it much easier to learn another one because they’re already learnt a lot from their previous mistakes. 

We know exactly what to avoid for the next time round. While everyone takes their own approach to language learning, here at Lingo Online we’ve chosen to give a few tips on common mistakes people make when learning another language. 

These tips will help you in the process, no matter what language you’re choosing to learn! The most important thing to consider before you do anything of course is to have a real purpose for why you want to learn another language so that when times get tough, you can remember why you started! 

1: Don’t rely on books

This may seem counter productive, but it’s true! Books are very useful when it comes to learning grammar and vocabulary, but when you’re faced with holding an actual conversation in real life; you’re likely to struggle if you focus entirely on learning from books.

In reality, language learning is all about forcing yourself to think on your feet and translate what you’re hearing into something you can actually understand!

Reading books is a great way to learn the absolute basics of a new language, but make sure you’re speaking with native speakers as well! This way, you’ll learn much faster and someone else will be able to correct any mistakes you’re making straight away. 

2: Don’t forget to set goals to mark your progress

Language learning is a large, long-term goal that you’re ultimately aiming for but you need smaller goals along the way to help you keep moving. 

Setting smaller goals allows you to track your progress and gives you encouragement along the way. These goals could be things such as “I want to be able to introduce myself confidently in 2 weeks time” or “I want to be able to describe what I do for my job, in one months time”. 

If your mini goal is related to family or friends, for example you want to have a basic understand of Spanish before you go on holiday with a friend to Spain, then this is a good target to aim for! 

3: Don’t try to avoid the culture when you’re learning a new language

Language is made up so many expressions of culture, which books and courses never adequately cover. 

This relates to the way in which the average person interacts with other people in his or her community — gestures, intonation, slang, proximity, interjections and cuss words, fillers, etc.

These things take years to pick up even for the best learners but it’s important to realise that they’re part of the whole package. If you take an interest in the culture whilst you’re learning the language, more of the slang, informal phrases will make sense to you and this will make it easier overall. 

It’ll also mean than if you visit the foreign country in the future, you’ll already know the background and fit in with the locals! 

A good way to learn about the culture of another country is to speak with native speakers, as you’ll learn exactly how certain words and phrases are spoken without sounding too formal or out of place. 

Here at Lingo Online, that’s exactly our aim. To connect anyone who wants to learn another language with a native speaker of that language, instantly via a phone app. Live video calling is the best way to do that, as its informal and you’ll be surprised how much you can learn!

To find out more about our live video calling app, and see how you can use it to learn another language for free, visit our website and social media pages below:

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