Year End Specials | 2024 — A Year in Review

The Importance of Learning a Language When You Travel

For an immersive travel experience, I do not hesitate to go beyond the obvious.

The photograph is used for representational purposes only [Photo: ©Vickey Maverick.]

When I saw the above scribbled on a wall during an elaborate trip to Italy, it was curiosity that made me take a photograph. Little did I know then that this photograph would become the lead in a narrative about languages.

For the uninitiated, the written Italian Dopo tutto questo tempo? Sempre translates as, after all this time? Always.

Extensive travel has helped improve my linguistic abilities to a considerable extent. It is a fact that learning the basics of a local language will help you get around places and also break the ice with the locals. Besides, these aspects combine to make travel a memorable experience.

However, understanding the history of the place you are visiting, and also a different culture, requires additional effort. Considering the fact that I always look for an immersive travel experience, I do not hesitate to go beyond the obvious.

While I am aware that I cannot be fluent in all the languages, as a traveler, I always make an effort to learn new words and phrases in a foreign language.