In your opinion - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**Majestic58** · 06-15-2006, 01:02 AM

for me to learn before I go wandering around Europe next summer? I would really like to be almost fluent in at least one language besides english before I go... Which language do you think would do me the most good?

xtremefx · 06-15-2006, 01:30 AM

well where ya plannin on goin,cos then from what countries you list and knowin (google-ing) what language they speak in these countries,we can find out which is best...

**Majestic58** · 06-15-2006, 02:09 AM

*laughs* I'm going EVERYWHERE! I plan on spending at LEAST six months wandering aimlessly... Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Poland, Ukraine, Greece, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Netherlands, Russia, Turkey. Hungry, Norway, Denmark, Austria... And who knows where else or in what order.

xtremefx · 06-15-2006, 02:59 AM

uh...well im stumped

**expatben** · 06-15-2006, 03:06 AM

Russian might be benificial for:
Czech Republic
Poland,
Ukraine
Russia
Hungry

German would be benificial
Switzerland
Germany
Austria
Czech Republic*
Poland,*
Ukraine*
Hungry*

*while many people in these countries do speak German and learn it in the schools it can be considered taboo due to their unfortunate history with the Germans. The Dutch might speak German too.

French:
Switzerland
France

So really if it were me I would make it a tie between German and Russian. Don't know about Russian but as someone who has tried to learn German and Polish I found German easier...then again some people might get offended.

**Majestic58** · 06-15-2006, 03:10 AM

*laughs* Damn, I didn't realize I was taking on a political agenda! *laughs* Nah, but I speak a bit of french (since I'm Canadian and had to take it in school...) so I figured I would at least brush up on that... And then maybe I'll take some Russian.

thanks for all the help.

If anyone has any other ideas let me know.

**Majestic58** · 06-15-2006, 03:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by xtremefx@Jun 15 2006, 09:59 AM
uh...well im stumped

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*smiles* thanks for trying.

I know my being so vague doesn't make it any easier to help.

**expatben** · 06-15-2006, 04:03 AM

well, if you already know a bit of French than that might be more benificial to you as its easier to brush up. I have admit that when I was in Poland and really needed too I did speak German and no one seemed that offended.

**Majestic58** · 06-15-2006, 04:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by expatben@Jun 15 2006, 11:03 AM
well, if you already know a bit of French than that might be more benificial to you as its easier to brush up. I have admit that when I was in Poland and really needed too I did speak German and no one seemed that offended.

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I figure since I have a little over a year to get things together I can get my french up and at least START taking another language... Even if the end result is choppy and not very good gramatically.

Has anyone ever taken one of those "(Insert language here) for travellers" classes? Do they actually help?

Echeverry · 06-15-2006, 08:56 AM

German and spanish, they are both very similar to english, I learned to read and write in spanish in about 2 weeks or so. But a something that opens doors is Latin, learn it and you will be soooooo able to understand almost anything (being rooted from the said). :greenguy:

**omisan** · 06-15-2006, 10:37 AM

German is definitely useful in the countries you listed where Russian is useful. They get so many German tourists in central/eastern Europe, that a lot of people wind up knowing it. That and the whole being occupied by 'em 60 years ago... It's also handy in the Netherlands. They HATE it when you go up to them and speak German without asking, but they totally understand it.

Since you already know some French, Spanish would be easy to learn. The romance languages are all similar enough that'll make fluency within a year pretty easy, I'd say... Though German would make a good jumping-off point for learning other central European languages in the future, in terms of pronunciation and grammar.

My favorite series for learning to speak a language, though not necessarily for literacy, are Pimsleur's audio CDs. Really really really really good for native-level pronunciation.

The "Teach Yourself..." series is pretty solid, but a lot tougher, as it simulates an accelerated college classroom environment with audio, reading, and written exercises.

Go with the method that suits you best.

xtremefx · 06-15-2006, 10:50 AM

italian and spanish are quite similair actually,2 of my friends a spanish one called nachos and an italian one called fra...sorry day dreamin there,damn girl,yer,fra would speak italian and nachos would speak spanish and they understood each other,and neither of them new the other language as such,but they were similair enough for them to understand each other a fair bit

hope that helped :D

**bluepea** · 06-15-2006, 11:06 AM

French would have been very beneficial for us to know in several countries. Even in Poland, when we were having communication difficulties, the guy asked if we spoke French instead. We did get by with German though.

Most Europeans know multiple languages, so if you hammer out your French, you should be able to get by. You'll probably want to add polite phrases (yes, no, thank, please, may I have a super huge beer?, etc) in German, Spanish & Russian.

xtremefx · 06-15-2006, 11:14 AM

im european,i dont know multiple languages

JeanB · 06-15-2006, 12:16 PM

If you just learn a little of each of these

spanish
french
russian

then you'll have enough to get by. Learn it on the way, its fun!

**florencia9699** · 06-15-2006, 01:27 PM

>Hehe you guys it's Hungary, not to be confused with "hungry" (needing food).

**bluepea** · 06-15-2006, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by xtremefx@Jun 15 2006, 10:14 AM
im european,i dont know multiple languages

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"Most Europeans know multiple languages,"

Echeverry · 06-15-2006, 02:41 PM

Dude to be honest everyone here is trying to play with you, they don't want you to know that elfish (I know it's not spelled like this) the most important one! :greenguy:

xtremefx · 06-15-2006, 04:22 PM

MOST europeans know english so yer

GrahamP · 06-15-2006, 04:45 PM

yea just learn to speak english in different accents and you'll be find, and acutally you should get an Irish to English translation guide