The Average Traveller Can Read Ten Languages

 ~ I've written before about language learning on this site, and pointed out some of the excellent free resources available online for anyone interested in learning a foreign language before they embark on international travel.

Today, I discovered the Easiest Foreign Languages site, which also provides free access to a wide range of information related to language learning. Easiest Foreign Languages, reveals that travellers have the potential to read 10 languages -- but most don’t realize it. This news is just in time for the upcoming travel season, and will enable tourists to read their way around Europe or Latin America in countries with these easiest languages.

The website has been developed to help more people begin foreign languages as easily as possible. It reveals that many foreign words are similar to English, especially in writing, and shows visitors how much they know about the ten easiest languages just because they know English. This free resource has been developed by Robert Masters, who previously served as a consultant developing Roget’s II Thesaurus.

The website explains that many foreign words are similar to English, especially in writing. So travellers can read a surprising amount in the following languages: Spanish, Italian, French, German, Portuguese, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, and even Romanian.

Each of these European languages has over 1,000 travel words similar to English, which are easier to read and remember than 10 foreign words unrelated to English. Being able read thousands of foreign words related to English will help tourists in Europe, even if they are unable to speak much in a foreign language, nor able to understand what foreigners say.

In each language, the words similar to English can be thought of as Easiest French, Easiest Spanish, Easiest Italian, and Easiest German.

Here’s an example of Easiest French, which to my surprise, I was able to translate without too much trouble – no small feat given that my knowledge of French is minimal at best: Mon nom est Paul. J’ai réservé un appartement. Je suis allergique à la pénicilline. Informez ma famille. Où sont des toilettes accessibles aux handicaps? [Spoiler Alert: My translation of these sentences appears at the end of this entry.]

Tourists can read foreign words related to English at their own pace, unlike being forced to keep up when trying to listen to a foreigner speak.

So now travellers can get ready for several or many European languages, with words similar to English and also similar to each other's words, making it even easier. The web site makes the grand claim that “for the first time ever, it is possible to be prepared for up to 10 languages in Europe, in only a few hours.”

Travellers can discover how much they know about easiest languages just because they know English. They will recognize more foreign words than they realize. This will make it easier for them to travel in any countries where these languages are spoken.

The ten languages easiest for English are not the only the easiest languages. In most cases, whatever someone’s native language may be, there are foreign languages which have many words similar to that language. For example, there are easiest languages for each of the five Germanic languages, and also for each of the five Romance languages. Also, foreign languages exist in other families of languages that share many of the same words.

Go to Easiest Foreign Languages to find out all about the 10 easiest languages for English-speakers -- or the 5 easiest languages each for speakers of any Romance Languages or Germanic languages.

My translation of French sentences into English: My name is Paul. I have reserved an apartment. I am allergic to penicillin. Inform my family. Are the toilets handicap accessible?

-o0o-

Spanish is The Loving Tongue

~ Hola! Como se llama usted?

In my entry for July 7 (Never To Old To Live And Learn) I wrote that I had signed up for a ten week Spanish for Fun and Travel course at the WEA, an adult learning institution here in Adelaide.

I’m now two weeks into the course, and desperately trying to remember and practise everything I’m learning. The hardest part is not having anyone to talk to, or practise with. So with that in mind, I went searching for language classes online to see if I could find a site to supplement my classes.

As you might imagine there are literally hundreds if not thousands of websites that offer language courses either for free or for a fee. The best of them provide some lessons free to get you started, and a ‘premium’ service for a fee.

After conducting several hours of research and trying some of the sites, I have settled on a great online resource that is proving to be a treasure trove of help for language learners like myself.

The site is the Radio Lingua Network.

On the Radio Lingua Network you can listen to, and download audio files for at least 18 languages. These include the obvious ones like French, Spanish, Italian, and German, but also less obvious languages such as Catalan, Gaelic and Irish, Luxembourgish, Polish and Russian, Danish and Norwegian, Greek and Turkish, and others.

The downloadable resources for Spanish alone run to 80 audio lessons of between 15 and 20 minutes each. And these Coffee Break Spanish lessons are free!

If you opt to pay for the Premium lessons, here’s what you get:

• 15-20 minute enhanced audio lesson which includes flashcards for iPhone/iPod Touch and other iPod models


• Printable lesson guide which outlines all the words and phrases covered in the lesson, additional vocabulary and notes


• Bonus listening material: 8-10 minutes of extra listening which helps to consolidate the language covered in the main lesson


• All materials available via a one-click download through iTunes


• Platinum content for level 1 and 2 which includes wordlists, review exercises and key

So why am I paying for a language class when I can listen online and download lessons for free?

Because there is nothing quite as good as being in a room filled with other students practising and using the language as it is intended to be used – in conversation between real people. I also have the benefit of getting help and feedback from my teacher, and the added ability to ask questions, clarify pronunciation, and gain confidence using my new language skills.

However, the benefits of using the audio lessons on the Radio Lingua Network are that I can have them playing on my computer (as I write this for instance), which helps reinforce what I have already learnt, and prepares me for the lessons to come.

By the way, if you are a member of Twitter, you can follow the Network and sign up for language specific ‘tweets’ every time a new lesson for your chosen language has been added to the RLN site.

I would like to point out that I am not associated with the Radio Lingua Network, either as an affiliate, subscriber to their services (although I should be), or in any other way. I just happen to think they are providing an incredibly valuable service (especially the free lessons), and think too that more people should know about and support them.

PS: The opening Spanish paragraph reads: Hello! What is your name?