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Learn a Language for Free While Dreaming About Your Next Trip

Lauren West

Let’s be real: we’re staying home a lot more these days. People around the world are quarantining, and a good chunk of us have way more time on our hands than normal.

This post is sponsored by ​Duolingo​, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.

But let’s think about that–we have more time on our hands. MORE TIME!!! I can’t remember the last time I had…extra time!

So no, we can’t travel right now. But honestly this might be the best time to try the things we’ve always wanted to do, but never had time to do. And how else to better prepare ourselves for our next trip, than to learn a foreign language?! As we spend our days dreaming about our next trip, we’re super stoked to have extra time now to learn a new language with the free language learning app, Duolingo.

 

Why You Should Learn a Language for Your Next Trip

If there’s anything this time has reminded us, it’s how important travel is to us. Though we can’t travel right now, we cherish our travel memories more than ever before. And…boy oh boy, do we look forward to our next adventure. In the meantime, we’re stoked to expand our knowledge of world languages for when we are able to travel again!

Here’s why.

Learning at least the basic foundations of the language of the place you want to visit can make your experience infinitely better.

I can’t tell you how many times our basic language knowledge of Chinese, Czech, Spanish, and Korean have helped us in a bind during our travels. I mean, we could still be stranded in the middle of Peru for all I know, if we weren’t able to communicate with Spanish! (Probably not, though. Right?)

An understanding of the local language enriches your travel, gives you a better understanding of the local culture, and makes the locals much more receptive to you.

Whenever I’m trying to bargain at a market and I speak in the local language, the seller is far more likely to give me a lower price than if I just spoke in English. I’m more effective at communicating my desired destination to a taxi. I can dine at restaurants without English menus more easily.

If you speak some of the local language of your travel destination, you’re just so much more involved and aware of everything happening around you, helping you be more in charge of your traveling experience.

Learning the local language also enables you to get off-the-beaten path when traveling, and venture to places where people don’t speak English. It expands what you’re able to see, where you’re able to go, and how you’re able to fully inhabit your travel experience.

And now learning a new language is easier and more accessible than ever before. Download the free Duolingo app, jumpstart your language learning expedition, expand your horizons, and get preparing for your next adventure!

What is Duolingo?

Duolingo is a completely free language learning app that makes it easier than ever for anyone to learn a new language. It’s democratizing the way we learn language–you no longer need expensive tutors, classes, or books.

And guys, using Duolingo literally feels like playing a game, so learning a language is actually fun. They offer short, enjoyable little bite-sized lessons you can fit basically anywhere into your routine, and soon enough, you’re speaking a new language.

We’ve been using Duolingo for ages now. A sprinkle of Korean, a much-needed brushing up on some Spanish. I mean, Ben is literally teaching himself German just from using the Duolingo app.

 

What Languages Can You Learn?

Okay, we’ve been using Duolingo for a while, but the app has expanded SOOOO much since we started!

Duolingo now has more than 35 languages, including pretty much everything you’ll need once you start traveling. You can even teach yourself High Valyrian, the Game of Thrones language. I mean, why not?!

See the full Duolingo language list here.

 

Why We Love Duolingo

There’s nothing NOT to love.

The people who made Duolingo are seriously amazing. They’ve allowed anyone IN THE WORLD with a screen and internet connection to have all this language-learning knowledge right at their fingertips, in fun, digestible lessons. AND IT’S FREE.

I was amazed by Duolingo when I first discovered it, and I’m even more amazed now, with all the new features they’ve implemented.

 

So, what’s to love?

Duolingo allows anyone to learn a language for free.

As former EFL teachers, we know a lot of people who go through great expense just to learn a basic introduction to a new language. Language tutors and classes are pricey, and can’t necessarily work into everyone’s daily reality.

Enter Duolingo. It disrupts everything we used to know about access to learning languages. Use Duolingo to learn English, Swahili, Ukranian, Hindi, Danish, Irish, Navajo, Latin…you can even freakin’ learn Klingon.

What does Duolingo cost? Nothing. The beauty of Duolingo, is it’s accessible to pretty much anyone. That’s why Duolingo is the world’s most popular way to learn a language for free.

Duolingo makes learning a language feel like a game.

The build of the app takes away the tedium of language learning, making it easier and more fun to learn Swedish or Turkish or any of the other 35+ languages they have.

Let’s be honest–my attention span has pretty much gone out the window these days. But the beauty of Duolingo is I can take little bites of language learning lessons whenever I want for as long as I want, and it never feels boring.

Duolingo is based on learning science.

The app is EFFECTIVE! Whether brushing up on that language you learned in high school or learning some French for that Paris trip you’re dreaming about next year, the integrity of Duolingo’s learning science can help you do it.

Duolingo has expanded with new features.

I was blown away when I saw how many new languages Duolingo has now (over 35!).

But, I’m also LOVING the Duolingo Stories feature, which has a bunch of free interactive stories that allow you to listen to a conversation and answer questions. It’s fun and super effective. You can try Duolingo Stories on the app or online.

 

So what’s stopping you, babes?! Stop dreaming about your next trip, and start preparing for it by learning a new language with Duolingo. By the time we’re able to travel again, you’ll be ready to go! Download the Duolingo Language Learning app for free here.

 

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What language do you want to learn with Duolingo?

Let us know in a comment below!

 

 

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