Why Language is Your Best Friend When Traveling Alone

To be able to truly enjoy your experience abroad, knowing—even if it is just for a little—the local language will give you the joyous experience. Knowing the local language would make your traveling moment way easier. Imagine when you are solo exploring a wonderful place in the Indonesian archipelago. Then, you meet indigenous people who live there and can't speak English. How will you ask where the toilet is? Or how are you going to ask for directions while you are lost? How do you ask someone to help you in your emergency? There is no one you can count on but to learn important phrases in the local language.

I’ll tell you a secret about speaking with the locals. If you know a local language, even if it is just a greeting or a thank you, it would automatically make you respected by the local community. This is a valid situation in a country with the humblest and always-smiling people like Indonesia. Hence, before visiting the country, make sure you know the Indonesian language or taking an online course and practicing it right away with a native Indonesian teacher!

Here is the list of other reasons you should learn the local language, especially during your solo trip!

Language is the best way to learn the culture of the people

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Language is the key to unlock many possibilities in your dream country. Learning the local language not only makes your life easier during solo traveling, but it also gives you 360 degrees view to understand a country from its cultural perspective. It is the ultimate way for you to fit in with the locals and dive deep into a drastically different life from your home country.

Locals would be glad to hear you speaking their language

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Anyone would surely be happy to know your excitement towards them. This postulate also applied when you’re speaking the local language during your visit to a certain place or country, even if it is just one or two words you know.

Furthermore, they may feel connected to you and offer you help anytime you need it. Isn’t it a good way of developing a relationship or even having a family in foreign places?

Enable direct interaction with the locals you’ve just met

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The world is full of amazing people. However, not all those people speak English. If you are willing to learn their language and understand how they communicate voluntarily, you are opening your opportunities to meet more great people.

For instance, you may start to have a simple conversation with your taxi driver or hotelier that serves you. They may have a fascinating story to share too.

Part of your self-development

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Understanding a new language is good for your intelligence quotient and to balance between your right-left brain. Additionally, it is beneficial to increase your memory and creativity and strengthen your brain capacity during problem-solving. It trains you to think quickly and systematically while formulating a sentence or phrase to speak.

Besides, being able to speak other languages would boost your confidence. It is also a worthy skill in business. Simply by knowing other languages, you can start promoting your product globally! In terms of career, putting your language skill on your CV would make it shines brighter.

A skill that would benefit you for the rest of your life

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When you have mastered a multinational language like Melayu or Indonesian, you’ll be safe to visit at least four countries where it is spoken: Indonesia, Malaysia, Brunei Darussalam, Singapore, and part of Timor Leste. Not to mention how many local races and tribes’ differences in the Indonesian archipelago you can easily engage by speaking Bahasa Indonesia, the uniting language.

Finally, start your journey right away by learning Indonesia online through this online course! You can also book a free trial session here.