The Power of Language
Bridging the gap between travel & communication.
This post is sponsored by Rosetta Stone® but the content and opinions expressed here are my own.
If five years ago, you asked me where my life would be now, the last answer I’d give is exploring the world.
Growing up my family weren’t big travelers – we had our annual Cape Cod trip and ventured as far as the Bahamas (on an American resort, mind you). I was raised in a white, middle-class town with little exposure to other cultures. The extent of my experience with another language consists of six years of high school level French with nothing to show but “Est-ce je peux aller aux toilettes, s'il vous plaît?"
Fast forward a few years and I can proudly look back on trips to Italy, Spain, Austria, New Zealand, Barbados, Australia, the Philippines, and Malta, among others. In each of these countries I immersed myself in great amounts of local culture and history, however, the forefront of communication always lacked…language.
I often think back to my time in Spain, wondering how much deeper of an experience I may have had if I was able to genuinely communicate with Spaniards in their native tongue.
Born in America, we often forget the privilege that comes with speaking such a universal language. In Italy, the Philippines, Austria…virtually everyone speaks at least some English.
But, the point of language is not simply to converse over a menu or ask where the restroom is. I want MORE out of language. I want the ability to understand native Columbians far past the point of polite small talk.
They say language is an expression of who we are as individuals, communities and nations. I don’t think we will ever fully understand one another until we can communicate on the same wavelength…the same language.
While I cannot redo my first experiences in Spain or Barbados, I can commit to making more of an effort to immerse myself in the culture of my future travels, and I encourage you to, too.
I’ve recently set my sights on exploring South America, of which, the majority of citizens speak Spanish. I refuse to book my flight until I have a solid understanding of Spanish and feel confident in my communication abilities.
anytime...
& anywhere!
Furthermore, the program offers a few new features that focus on our brain’s natural ability to learn language. TruACCENT™ is a new speech recognition technology that listens to you speak and helps perfect your pronunciation. Rather than sit there trying to mimic what you hear an instructor pronounce, this new technology processes the errors in your own pronunciation and aids in correction.
Although I’ve only just begun my journey with Rosetta Stone®, I can confidently attest to its ability to aid in learning a new language. With a little determination and hard work, we can all take the next step to better understanding our neighbors.
Depending on your needs, you can access the program on a monthly-subscription basis (either 3, 6, 12 or 24-month long subscriptions). You can also test out the features (including the new TruACCENT™!) in a free demo or with the 30-day money back guarantee.
So before you book your next flight, hop on Rosetta Stone® and make a valiant effort to learn to natural language of your hosts.
So…let’s talk Rosetta Stone®! I opted to download Rosetta Stone® via my mobile device & laptop. Your account syncs seamlessly between the two, so you won’t have a problem switching between desktop and cellphone.
The program is broken up into twenty units – from “life and world” to “family and communication”. These units are further broken down into four lessons, with mini checkpoints for vocabulary, grammar, listening skills, reading, writing, etc. Perhaps the best quality of Rosetta Stone® is the focus on visual learning. I genuinely believe I have nothing to show for my six years of French due to the focus on memorization and conjugation tables.
Do we hand our two-year-olds lists of vocabulary and conjunction rules to learn English? No. Rosetta Stone® emphasizes visual stimulus, much like the way a child learns his native language.
Super easy to start...
For more information, find the Rosetta Stone® website here!
