From the outset, I should be honest – I have never mastered a language aside from my native English. I will explain below how I got to a conversational level of Spanish – and my experience of learning another language while traveling. I have travelled to plenty of countries where I haven’t spoken a word of their language. Fortunately for me, speaking English tends to be enough to get by. It is fun to learn a few words and phrases, but that is far short of learning a language.

It is unlikely that you can turn up to a country and pick up a language immediately. If you expect to do so, you may be disappointed, disheartened, or dejected at your failure. Learning takes practice, commitment, and dedication. Practicing beforehand will make a trip to a place where you can speak with locals in their language more rewarding. Going to a country and surrounding yourself with native speakers is, without doubt, the best way to learn a language. Particularly if you put yourself in situations where you have no choice other than to listen and speak it.

Salamanca

My first attempt at learning a language abroad was not successful. I had never spoken a word of Spanish until I took up lessons in my second year of university. During the following summer of 2009, I went to Spain for six weeks, including four weeks at a Spanish summer school in Salamanca, plus stays in Madrid and Barcelona.

A combination of factors contributed to my lack of success in improving my Spanish – mostly self-inflicted. Firstly, most students came from other European countries who also spoke English. With most of us having a basic level of Spanish, it was far easier to revert. Secondly, at the age of 21, I was more focused on the social aspects of the trip, making friends, enjoying the amazing cuisine, as well as many a cerveza. After setting out with good intentions, learning Spanish took a less important role – and I think that was the same for many fellow students.

Having said that, I don’t regret the trip. I made great friends that I am still in contact with. And I loved my short-time as a Spanish student, enjoying the continental lifestyle – morning classes, afternoon siestas, warm evenings, the relaxed atmosphere, and nighttime entertainment.

Central America

After graduating from university in the summer of 2010, I worked in London for six months, until I was told the job would end the week before Christmas. Having lived rent-free, courtesy of my brother and sister-in-law, I had saved enough to take time-off work. I wanted an adventure.

I aimed to combine it with learning Spanish again, but hopefully with more success. On my brother and sister-in-law’s recommendation, I chose Central America. The relatively low cost of living there meant my savings would go further, offering me the chance to backpack for an extended period, leaving behind my sheltered existence in the south of England.

I booked two weeks of Spanish lessons in Antigua, Guatemala, to start a week after I arrived on the twelve-week trip in early 2011. I thought it would put added value behind the jaunt – advancing mu Spanish level – as well as help me to get around. The classes in Guatamala were one-to-one lessons, with a much-needed focus on speaking and listening. Instead of saying a few phrases throughout an hour-long lesson in a room of twenty, as in the UK and Spain, I had three hours of intense practice daily. I expanded my vocabulary and developed my ability to speak Spanish more in those two weeks than I had in two years of lessons, at an English university combined with four weeks of lessons in Spain.

Most significantly, I had the confidence to initiate conversation in Spanish. Those two intensive weeks gave me the steppingstone to have conversations with locals on the rest of my trip, which not only proved extremely helpful for getting around, but allowed me to communicate with people I wouldn’t have been able to. It enhanced my trip while simultaneously gave me a sense of achievement. My proudest moment was when I was able to integrate sarcasm into a conversation in Spanish – that almost made my cry.

Back to the present

Regrettably, I didn’t practice Spanish again for over a decade after that. My level of Spanish had, between 2011 and 2022, regressed back to a low, basic standard. Of course, I look back at the decisions to discontinue practicing as a missed opportunity to build on what I learnt. Nevertheless, I started to learn Spanish again in 2022, and as of 2024, I am at a similar level to where I was in 2011. I have surprised myself with the knowledge I have retained, and I’m confident that a return to a Spanish-speaking country would progress my ability quickly.

I still view my trip to Central America, in respect of learning Spanish, as a positive and worthwhile venture. I was proud of myself for speaking Spanish with locals and experiencing the feeling of communicating with people in a language other than my own. I felt a stronger connection to the place than I have in other trips when I haven’t spoken the native language.

Over to you

Speaking the local language can only enhance travelling, open up more avenues for interaction, and immersion into the destination. You will often find locals that are honoured and humbled of an attempt to speak their language. In some places, you might find that people would rather speak to you in English – if they want to practice themselves, or their English is markedly better than your attempts to speak their language. But don’t give up, speak as often as you can, and you will notice the improvements.

I would love to hear about how other people have developed their languages while travelling. Especially ones who have done so more successfully than me. Whether you have continued from studying at home or picked it up after moving to a new country. Please get in touch!