A Learned By Me tutor, Patricia Contreras (Photo by Learned By Me)
By Michael Frank
Over the last year since we first created our online Spanish tutoring startup with tutors from South America, we have explored partnerships with many different travel and education companies and formalized partnerships with a few. In doing that, we learned a lot about the value that studying the local language before you go on a trip has in creating happy, engaged, responsible travelers and better trips.
Here are my key takeaways:
1. Enjoy Greater Independence
Travelers in South America who have at least a basic understanding of Spanish find that the more Spanish they speak, the more easily they can take on local experiences with non-English speakers. Being able to navigate through cities on your own will be a great advantage, as you can enjoy a broader range of activities and enhanced safety as well, whether it be getting around with local transportation to explore a new part of a city instead of staying with a tour van, or being able to ask for directions in Spanish when getting lost.
2. Make the Most of Opportunities to Interact with Locals
Many tours, whether in South America or in Europe, offer opportunities for interactions with locals to learn about their cultures through local guides or through visits to local communities. While knowing the local language, of course, can greatly enrich these encounters and help you make the most of these experiences, simply making an effort to learn a few useful phrases and words can also go a long way in helping you connect with and learn from the locals you meet during your trip.
3. Discover More Things to Do and See
While there are a number of great guidebooks available for international travelers, imagine how so much more exciting it will be if you can check out activities and events highlighted in local newspapers and magazines, flyers you come across in cafes and bars, and blogs and websites written in the local language!
4. Be More Engaged in Preparing for Your Trip
When you make an effort to get to know the local language spoken in the destination you plan to visit, you will invariably think more carefully about what you want to learn to get ready for your trip. For this reason, learning from a local is a great way not only to improve your language skills but also to be engaged in stories, articles or discussions about what you plan to do or what you should see during your trip, and it can often inspire creative ideas for your trip. Careful planning and local tips can make the difference between a low energy trip and one that’s enhanced by a nuanced understanding of the destination and off-the-beaten-path suggestions!
About the Author
Michael Frank is the founder of Learned By Me, an online tutoring company that connects top teachers from South America with students for one on one Skype tutoring sessions for $15 / class.