Traveling with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages
Practical guide to learning a language while traveling
Can you travel with kids who don’t know the languages? Yes, and I can tell you even more: the journey can become the best tool for kids to naturally learning the language while traveling.
Kids can adapt much better than us, even to extreme situations like traveling without knowing the languages.
Giulia has spent most of her life traveling and has always been exposed to different languages. For her, it’s normal to communicate with kids who don’t know her language, and somehow she always managed, even when she needed to communicate better as she grew older.
But for Aldo, it was different. When we set off this time, we really faced the problem of traveling with kids who don’t know the languages, and sometimes it was even complex for us.
Right now, we are in Portugal, in a fairly traditional village where no one speaks English. We, too, have taken on the challenge of learning the language while traveling.
Why Travel with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages
In the first days after departure, neither Aldo nor Giulia seemed very interested in learning the language while traveling, and we let them choose freely until one day they came to us asking to start learning the language on the trip.
Waiting until they felt the need was undoubtedly the best way to face this challenge: traveling with kids who don’t know the languages is certainly an adventure within an adventure.
Benefits of Traveling with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages
Even for us, seeing Aldo and Giulia face this challenge with enthusiasm was a push to undertake the task of learning the language while traveling. Matteo and I speak English fluently and don’t have major problems, but when we moved to Magoito, a village near Lisbon, we found ourselves needing to learn Portuguese as no one here speaks English and they don’t even try to understand us.
Overcoming Language Barriers and Learning the Language While Traveling
Traveling with kids who don’t know the languages was the decisive push that led us to overcome language barriers, bet on ourselves, and learn the language while traveling.
Now we are all committed to this adventure, and while Aldo and Giulia are doing great learning English from a native teacher, Matteo and I are facing the challenge of learning the language while traveling, a new language, as adults.
For Matteo, learning a language while traveling became essential as he started working in the kitchen of a Portuguese restaurant. For me, it’s more a matter of social respect for the people around me.
Tips for Traveling with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages
Recently, I found myself thinking that I should give my kids the opportunity to learn English thoroughly, with a native teacher.
Even though we practice homeschooling or unschooling, or however we want to call it, and even though I know English quite well (having lived most of my life in English-speaking countries), I don’t feel capable of teaching them the language myself, even though it would certainly be more than enough for basic knowledge.
Communicating with Gestures and Simple Words
When traveling with kids who don’t know the languages, it’s not essential for them to learn the language perfectly. Sometimes starting with gestures associated with a few words is more than enough.
Especially with Aldo, who is younger and still doesn’t speak Italian correctly, using gestures and basic words was his way of communicating for the first few months.
Using Apps and Translation Tools for Traveling with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages
When traveling with kids who don’t know the languages in a country where you don’t speak the local language either, technology can come to your rescue at many moments throughout the day.
Learning a language while traveling is undoubtedly the fastest way to do it, but sometimes you will find yourself in daily circumstances where you need to explain yourself well, so online translators are indispensable.
When Matteo needs to place an order with the restaurant supplier, he obviously needs a translator to translate individual ingredients. Similarly, the kids, not knowing many synonyms even in their mother tongue, often ask us to use Google Translate, which, thanks to the voice function, is also a great tool for pronunciation.
Using Visual and Multimedia Materials to Learn the Language While Traveling
But how do we travel with kids who don’t know the languages and teach them? Simple: by playing! There’s no better way for a child to learn a language while traveling than by playing. We don’t have much space, so we rely on online platforms that, with the support of visual materials, games, and songs, make the process of learning a language while traveling much simpler and more fun.
Involving Kids in Language Learning During the Journey
Beyond our personal choice, I believe that if you decide to travel with kids who don’t know the languages, it’s essential to provide them with the opportunity to learn, guiding them in this journey and helping them learn the language while traveling.
Handling Language Emergencies
We are known for not being very apprehensive, but since we always let our kids roam freely, the first thing we teach them when we arrive in a new country is how to communicate our phone number.
So far, it has never been needed, but both Aldo and Giulia know how to say in different languages that they are lost and need to call mom and dad (and of course, our number in various languages). This not only makes them more independent but also gives them a lot of confidence to move around on their own.
Doing Grocery Shopping in a Foreign Language While Traveling with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages
One thing we noticed that works very well in the process of learning a language while traveling is teaching common phrases and gestures through the simple daily action of grocery shopping.
Personally, we send Giulia almost every day by herself to buy bread, and we’ve noticed that every time she comes back with a new word or idiom, learned by talking to the cashier or listening to other customers.
There’s certainly no better way to learn a language while traveling than living daily experiences
Conclusions and Useful Resources
There is no common path to follow for those who choose to travel with kids who don’t know the languages, but I can guarantee that learning a language while traveling will be an exciting challenge for the whole family.
Summary of Key Tips for Traveling with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages
n conclusion, to learn a language while traveling, it’s important to let go and not insist on learning every single term perfectly. The journey is not the time to become fluent in a foreign language; it can be a time of great growth in the personal journey of learning a foreign language.
Digital platforms and translators are great tools, but nothing will be as valuable as living daily life fully immersed in another language!
Links to Additional Resources and Travel Guides for Learning the Language While Traveling
As mentioned, the help of multimedia platforms is certainly a very valid tool for traveling with kids who don’t know the languages.
Useful platforms are certainly:
- The simple and free YouTube
- Cartoons in foreign languages, preferably ones they already know
- Preply: a real paid platform where kids can have a native teacher of their choice from all nationalities around the world. A space to learn to communicate in a foreign language, even without knowing it. We have been using Preply for a few months and are very satisfied. The prices are affordable for everyone, and with 3/4€ per lesson, you can ensure continuous education for the kids.
Is It Worth Traveling with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages?
Surely kids who already master a language have an advantage in relationships, but I believe that giving kids the opportunity to learn a language while traveling is a unique opportunity for them. There is no better way to truly learn a language than to find yourself in the real need to communicate, and I can guarantee that not knowing a single word is not an insurmountable problem.
For me, it is important that my kids learn to know the place where they are living deeply, which is why I always try to provide them with the tools to learn even the most local languages. When we lived in Fuerteventura, Giulia had a babysitter who spoke to her in Spanish, just as when we were in Bali, she went every day to our neighbors’ house who spoke only Bahasa, which is the official language of Indonesia.
For us, this is a great form of respect and, above all, a way to live a journey to the fullest.
I hope this article on traveling with kids who don’t know the languages can help you abandon any fears for your next trip to foreign lands. Always remember that learning the language while traveling can become an integral part of the journey itself.
FAQ We Frequently Receive About Traveling with Kids Who Don’t Know the Languages
When you left, did the kids know how to speak English?
No, this article is born from the need to share that traveling with kids who don’t know the languages is possible.
How did the kids communicate at the beginning?
Kids, like adults, find a solution when faced with essential needs. Allowing them to express themselves freely, even if they make mistakes, definitely helped boost their self-confidence.
How difficult is it to travel with kids who don’t know the languages?
It’s challenging! It’s wonderful, it’s exciting, but it’s also really difficult. It means that at the beginning, you will have to stay close to them and help them understand; you will need to be there for any of their needs. It means that even if they are older, they will need you for everything, but the speed at which they will learn a new language will astonish you.
Would you recommend traveling with kids who don’t know the languages if the parents don’t speak English either?
Absolutely yes! There is no greater adventure or more immersive journey than one where parents and kids learn together. Additionally, finding yourself in the same need as your kids will only strengthen your bond even more.
Digitally Yours
☀️ Sara ☀️
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