Make the most of 1 week vacation where they speak an opaque language
Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 3:26 pm
We've had threads discussing how to make the most of immersion for longer stays abroad, in a country where they speak a language that's been studied or perhaps is transparent.
But what about a single week vacation, where they speak a language you've only studied for less than a month, and is entirely opaque to you?
I'm going to Budapest on vacation at the end of the month, and I've only had a few weeks to learn the very basics Hungarian. What tips do folks have for making the most of my language contact?
I'm not stressed about it — it's vacation! But getting to speak a less-common, new-to-me language sounds like a great vacation (I'm sure many of you understand ). So suggestions are welcome.
My own thoughts, to get us started:
But what about a single week vacation, where they speak a language you've only studied for less than a month, and is entirely opaque to you?
I'm going to Budapest on vacation at the end of the month, and I've only had a few weeks to learn the very basics Hungarian. What tips do folks have for making the most of my language contact?
I'm not stressed about it — it's vacation! But getting to speak a less-common, new-to-me language sounds like a great vacation (I'm sure many of you understand ). So suggestions are welcome.
My own thoughts, to get us started:
- Say good morning/afternoon/evening to everyone. Get comfortable with this barely-studied language coming out of my mouth.
- Ask multiple people for directions to the same place. Not only does this guard against wrong/misunderstood directions, but it also lets me hear variations on the same answer from native speakers.
- Eavesdrop on "rote" conversations. ("Real" conversations will be incomprehensible.) What do most people say when buying things, entering a shop, ordering at a restaurant, saying goodbye? They may say things that textbooks & Pimsleur missed. Copy them.
- Obsessively ask store clerks, "What is this called?" (after handing over payment, when there's no line; don't be a jerk).