How to actually practise a language while you travel

Travel is often the reason people learn a language, and it can be the best practice they ever get. It can also be a week of pointing at menus while everyone switches to English. The difference usually comes down to a few deliberate choices.

Before you go: prepare for the conversations you'll have

You can predict most of your conversations: ordering food, buying tickets, asking for directions, checking in, small talk about where you're from. Prepare those in advance, out loud. The aim isn't a perfect accent; it's getting the first sentence out without hesitating, because the first sentence decides which language the conversation continues in.

Destination-specific phrase guides help here, such as Spanish for travel, ordering in a French café or German for train travel.

Keeping the conversation in the language

One of the most common frustrations: you speak in the local language and the other person replies in English. They're usually trying to help, or they're busy. A few things that can keep you in the language:

• Open with confidence. A hesitant start invites a switch. Your prepared phrases help most here.
• Ask politely. Something like "Could we speak Spanish? I'm learning" (¿Podemos hablar en español? Estoy aprendiendo) usually works when people aren't rushed.
• Pick your moments. A busy ticket office at rush hour isn't the place. A quiet café, a market stall in the afternoon or a long train journey is.
• Don't take it personally. If someone switches, carry on where you can and try again with the next person.

Find situations with time to talk

Short transactions teach you phrases; longer conversations teach you the language. Situations that tend to give you time:

• Guided tours in the local language (many cities offer them).
• Cooking classes or workshops.
• Staying with hosts rather than in large hotels.
• Language exchange meetups, which exist in many cities and are specifically for this.
• Hairdressers, barbers and taxi rides, which come with built-in small talk.

Use your ears and eyes too

Everything around you is practice material. Read menus fully before looking at the English. Read signs, posters and the free local newspaper. Listen to station announcements and try to catch the platform number before it appears on the board. Watch local TV in your accommodation in the evening, even if you understand only a little.

Keep a travel phrase log

Every day, note three things you wanted to say but couldn't, and look them up in the evening. Those are the most valuable words you'll learn all trip, because you've already felt the need for them. Reviewing them over the following days makes them stick.

Expect it to be tiring

Functioning in another language all day is mentally exhausting, and that's normal. Plan some downtime, and don't feel guilty about switching to English when you need a break. A few good conversations a day are worth more than forcing every interaction.

After the trip

The biggest risk is the drop-off when you get home. A few weeks of focused practice right after a trip can lock in what you gained; keeping a language alive after your trip has some ideas.