The English language is widely used throughout the world today.  You can get by with English in most places you travel to abroad. But there is no doubt that taking the time to learn another language will enhance your experience abroad. Not only does it enable you to get around easier, it opens doors to new friendships and the real culture of a country. It also makes reading road signs, booking accommodation, ordering from a menu and shopping a lot smoother. Some fluency in another language also looks impressive on your CV particularly if you are applying for a job abroad.

Many countries have learnt English as a second language but it is not the world’s most widely spoken language. That honour goes to Mandarin Chinese followed closely in second place by English and in third, Spanish. Spanish is not just the home language of Spain, it is spoken in many popular holiday destinations throughout the world including South and Central America.

Whether you want to become fluent in another language or just learn a few phrases to get by on holiday, we have listed a range of learning opportunities available in the UK and abroad.

By the book:

Learning from a book is an excellent way to learn a new language at your own pace and in your own home. You can find just about any book and/or audio book in any language at Amazon’s website. A popular selling series is the Michel Thomas range published by Hodder Arnold that includes French, Spanish, Italian, German, Chinese (Mandarin) and Arabic. If you want to learn entry level Thai, Turkish, Russian and everything in-between, visit Linguaphone at www.linguaphone.co.uk. Another benefit of learning from a book is that you can take it with you when you travel as a quick reference guide.

Audio online:

If books aren’t really your speciality, you can download language files directly onto your MP3 player. The BBC language website www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/quickfix allows you to download quick fix holiday phrases as MP3 files and/or printouts. From Albanian to Ukrainian, you can learn useful travel phrases in up to 36 languages. You can also test your knowledge of popular languages like French and Chinese on the BBC website.

Language courses:

Taking a language course can help you become more conversational and fluent in your chosen language. It also allows you to practice with other students in class and is a great motivator. Cactus Language Courses run 10 week evening classes in 21 languages including French, Spanish, Japanese, Serbian and Brazilian Portuguese. With classes in 17 locations throughout London and other major cities in the UK, you should be able to find a course near you. To book visit www.languagecoursesuk.co.uk.

The Association for Language Learning offers affiliated language courses (www.all-languages.org.uk). To find a course near you, check your local paper, local council website and/or higher education college guides.

Language holidays:

There’s no better way to learn a new language than by immersing yourself in it. Take the plunge and practice your new language skills on the locals when on holiday abroad. Most people will be impressed by your effort to converse in their mother tongue. Whether you chose to learn Italian in Rome, French in Biarritz or Spanish in Seville, you can work as you learn on a work placement or volunteer holiday. Contact a Language Travel Advisor at www.languagesabroad.co.uk for advice on the level, location and type of course that would suit you best. If you are planning to learn a new language abroad, make sure you get travel insurance before you leave.

Phrasebook:

If you’re planning a short trip abroad and don’t have time to immerse yourself in a new language, then a phrasebook is the ideal travel companion. Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com) and Rough Guides (www.roughguides.com) publish pocket-sized phrase books that will help you order from the menu, ask for directions and more. Both Lonely Planet and Rough Guides also publish country guidebooks that provide detailed information on culture, history and places to see.

Whatever language learning tool you use, be sure to get travel insurance before you go abroad. For more information on the types of travel insurance available from Direct Line, visit

www.directline.com/travel.