In this episode of the Worldschooling Q&A Podcast, Astrid and Clint answer the question of what the best method is for language learning for travel.<\/p>\n
Worldschooling Q&A Podcast – Episode 46<\/h2>\nHosts:<\/strong> Astrid & Clint, creators of The Wandering Daughter<\/p>\nTitle:<\/strong> Episode 46: What’s the best method for language learning for travel?<\/p>\nThis post may contain affiliate links. That means I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase something. But don’t worry, this will not result in any extra costs to you.<\/em><\/p>\nWorldschooling podcast episode summary<\/h2>\nIn this episode, we dig into a question we get asked constantly: what actually works for language learning for travel? Before we get into methods, we talk about why it matters at all. For us, language learning for travel is less about fluency and more about showing respect and humility to the places we visit.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Worldschooling-Q-and-A-Episode-46-1024x576.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n<\/a><\/figure>\nWe have spent four years traveling full time, and language learning for travel has been part of nearly every country we have lived in. From Indonesia to Spain to Mexico, we have leaned on different tools depending on how long we were staying and what our kids needed.<\/p>\n
We walk through the practical side of language learning for travel: the apps we actually use, the podcasts we listen to before a trip, the books and phrasebooks we pack, and the in-person classes that became part of our weekly routine. We also talk about movies, restaurants, and tours as everyday practice.<\/p>\n
\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cabo-san-lucas-02-23-2023-family-trip-9_original-edited-1024x769.jpg\")
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\n\nWorldschooling consultations <\/strong><\/p>\nMeet with Clint and Astrid for personalized help with your worldschooling plan. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
This episode is for any family wondering where to even start with language learning for travel. Whether you have a few months of lead time or you are already on the road, there is a method here that fits your family’s pace.<\/p>\n
Recommended books for language learning for travel<\/h4>\n\n\nBefore any trip, it’s good to prepare by learning some phrases in the language of that country. Here are some of our recommended language learning for travel books to help you get ready for your upcoming trip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Why language learning for travel starts with respect<\/h3>\nBefore we get into tools, we talk about why language learning for travel matters in the first place. We do not think every local should be expected to speak English just because we showed up.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Learn-Indonesian-1.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nTaking the time to learn even a little of the local language is a form of humility. It shows we are willing to meet people on their own terms, regardless of whether they speak English.<\/p>\n
Respect and empathy as the real goal<\/h4>\n
For us, language learning for travel is an extension of empathy. Attempting someone else’s language, even badly, communicates effort. It shows we care about understanding the culture we are visiting rather than expecting it to adapt to us.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/Hey-Kids-Lets-Go-Travel-Promo-1-1-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nReady for a change? Take the first step to living a life of full time travel. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Even just learning basic sentence structure and grammar gives us insight into how a culture thinks. That insight is often more valuable than the vocabulary itself.<\/p>\n
Building humility into how we travel<\/h4>\n
Language learning for travel keeps us humble in a way that pure sightseeing does not. When we struggle to order food or ask directions, we are reminded that we are guests. That mindset shapes how our kids experience every country we visit.<\/p>\n
Apps and structured tools for language learning for travel<\/h3>\nApps are usually the easiest entry point for language learning for travel, and we have tried a long list of them over the years. Some have become daily habits, others we use only before a specific trip.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/05\/DSC_0414.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nDuolingo as our daily habit<\/h4>\n
Duolingo is Clint’s go-to for language learning for travel, with a current streak of almost 1,500 days, close to four years. He likes it for the sheer volume of vocabulary it covers, though he wishes it explained grammar more clearly rather than just drilling it.<\/p>\n
Astrid uses Duolingo in bursts, ramping up for five minutes a day in the weeks before visiting a new country like Indonesia or Japan, then tapering off once the trip ends.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n![\"Family](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/Family-travel-resources-300x225.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\nGet weekly worldschooling tips sent to your inbox with my Worldschooling Wednesday<\/em>\u00a0email series.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBabbel, Busuu, and Lingopie for extra practice<\/h4>\n
Babbel is another app we have used for language learning for travel, and we like that it offers one-on-one speaking practice with tutors. Busuu is a similar option that rounds out vocabulary and grammar practice.<\/p>\n
Lingopie takes a different approach to language learning for travel by connecting lessons to movies. We can watch a film in Spanish with subtitles and pick up vocabulary in context, which works well for listening comprehension.<\/p>\n
JumpSpeak and Conjugato for specific gaps<\/h4>\n
JumpSpeak is useful for language learning for travel because it focuses on situational learning, like ordering at a restaurant or checking into a hotel, rather than isolated vocabulary lists. Conjugato fills a different gap for us. It is built entirely around Spanish verb conjugations, with drills that reinforce the grammar Duolingo tends to skip.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Mexico-City-subway-9-768x1024.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nBeyond apps: everyday language learning for travel<\/h3>\nApps only go so far. Some of our most effective language learning for travel has happened away from a screen entirely, through podcasts, books, classes, and everyday situations.<\/p>\n
Podcasts that build listening comprehension<\/h4>\n
Before a trip, we listen to language-specific podcasts as part of our language learning for travel routine. Speak Like a Mexican is one we use for Spanish, and Little Talks is a French-language podcast Astrid follows. For Indonesian, Astrid listens to Bahasa Indonesia Bersama Winda because the hosts use local vernacular and idioms at a slower pace.<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\nLearn more about the amazing family travel resources we use for worldschooling!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n![\"passport,](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/05\/IMG_4490-300x300.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nClint’s pick is the Mexican Fluency Podcast, hosted by an American who married a woman from Mexico. It is especially good for listening comprehension if you are new to Spanish.<\/p>\n
Books, dictionaries, and phrasebooks<\/h4>\n
For language learning for travel with younger kids, we borrow picture books in the target language from the library, often on Kindle so they travel well. Astrid also collects illustrated dictionaries, including ones for Indonesian and Tagalog, where objects are paired with their words.<\/p>\n
When we want to understand grammar rather than just memorize vocabulary, we turn to dedicated language-learning books. Astrid also publishes free Spanish and Indonesian phrasebooks on her own site with 20 to 21 essential travel phrases for each.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/italian-countryside-8-738x500.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nIn-person classes and family routine<\/h4>\n
Some of our favorite language learning for travel has come from in-person classes rather than virtual ones. We have taken lessons in Indonesia, Spain, and Mexico, usually with the kids and parents in separate classes at the same time.<\/p>\n
In Spain, we saw a tutor twice a week for about two months, followed by pizza afterward. That routine gave our kids a sense of stability, and it turned language learning for travel into something that felt like living somewhere rather than just passing through.<\/p>\n
Movies, restaurants, and language tours<\/h4>\n
Watching movies with subtitles, ordering our own food, and asking where the bathroom is are all small but real forms of language learning for travel. We once accidentally watched a dubbed Spanish version of an American movie in Mexico and still followed most of the plot.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/Andalucia-road-trip-8-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nLanguage tours have also pushed our language learning for travel further. A Spanish-only trolley tour in San Miguel de Allende and a troubadour tour in Guanajuato both forced us to tune in closely, even when we only caught part of what was said.<\/p>\n
Submit your worldschooling questions here!<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n
Title:<\/strong> Episode 46: What’s the best method for language learning for travel?<\/p>\n This post may contain affiliate links. That means I may receive a small commission if you click on the link and purchase something. But don’t worry, this will not result in any extra costs to you.<\/em><\/p>\n In this episode, we dig into a question we get asked constantly: what actually works for language learning for travel? Before we get into methods, we talk about why it matters at all. For us, language learning for travel is less about fluency and more about showing respect and humility to the places we visit.<\/p>\n We have spent four years traveling full time, and language learning for travel has been part of nearly every country we have lived in. From Indonesia to Spain to Mexico, we have leaned on different tools depending on how long we were staying and what our kids needed.<\/p>\n We walk through the practical side of language learning for travel: the apps we actually use, the podcasts we listen to before a trip, the books and phrasebooks we pack, and the in-person classes that became part of our weekly routine. We also talk about movies, restaurants, and tours as everyday practice.<\/p>\n Worldschooling consultations <\/strong><\/p>\n Meet with Clint and Astrid for personalized help with your worldschooling plan. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n This episode is for any family wondering where to even start with language learning for travel. Whether you have a few months of lead time or you are already on the road, there is a method here that fits your family’s pace.<\/p>\n Before any trip, it’s good to prepare by learning some phrases in the language of that country. Here are some of our recommended language learning for travel books to help you get ready for your upcoming trip.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Before we get into tools, we talk about why language learning for travel matters in the first place. We do not think every local should be expected to speak English just because we showed up.<\/p>\n Taking the time to learn even a little of the local language is a form of humility. It shows we are willing to meet people on their own terms, regardless of whether they speak English.<\/p>\n For us, language learning for travel is an extension of empathy. Attempting someone else’s language, even badly, communicates effort. It shows we care about understanding the culture we are visiting rather than expecting it to adapt to us.<\/p>\n Ready for a change? Take the first step to living a life of full time travel. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Even just learning basic sentence structure and grammar gives us insight into how a culture thinks. That insight is often more valuable than the vocabulary itself.<\/p>\n Language learning for travel keeps us humble in a way that pure sightseeing does not. When we struggle to order food or ask directions, we are reminded that we are guests. That mindset shapes how our kids experience every country we visit.<\/p>\n Apps are usually the easiest entry point for language learning for travel, and we have tried a long list of them over the years. Some have become daily habits, others we use only before a specific trip.<\/p>\n Duolingo is Clint’s go-to for language learning for travel, with a current streak of almost 1,500 days, close to four years. He likes it for the sheer volume of vocabulary it covers, though he wishes it explained grammar more clearly rather than just drilling it.<\/p>\n Astrid uses Duolingo in bursts, ramping up for five minutes a day in the weeks before visiting a new country like Indonesia or Japan, then tapering off once the trip ends.<\/p>\n Get weekly worldschooling tips sent to your inbox with my Worldschooling Wednesday<\/em>\u00a0email series.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Babbel is another app we have used for language learning for travel, and we like that it offers one-on-one speaking practice with tutors. Busuu is a similar option that rounds out vocabulary and grammar practice.<\/p>\n Lingopie takes a different approach to language learning for travel by connecting lessons to movies. We can watch a film in Spanish with subtitles and pick up vocabulary in context, which works well for listening comprehension.<\/p>\n JumpSpeak is useful for language learning for travel because it focuses on situational learning, like ordering at a restaurant or checking into a hotel, rather than isolated vocabulary lists. Conjugato fills a different gap for us. It is built entirely around Spanish verb conjugations, with drills that reinforce the grammar Duolingo tends to skip.<\/p>\n Apps only go so far. Some of our most effective language learning for travel has happened away from a screen entirely, through podcasts, books, classes, and everyday situations.<\/p>\n Before a trip, we listen to language-specific podcasts as part of our language learning for travel routine. Speak Like a Mexican is one we use for Spanish, and Little Talks is a French-language podcast Astrid follows. For Indonesian, Astrid listens to Bahasa Indonesia Bersama Winda because the hosts use local vernacular and idioms at a slower pace.<\/p>\n Learn more about the amazing family travel resources we use for worldschooling!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Clint’s pick is the Mexican Fluency Podcast, hosted by an American who married a woman from Mexico. It is especially good for listening comprehension if you are new to Spanish.<\/p>\n For language learning for travel with younger kids, we borrow picture books in the target language from the library, often on Kindle so they travel well. Astrid also collects illustrated dictionaries, including ones for Indonesian and Tagalog, where objects are paired with their words.<\/p>\n When we want to understand grammar rather than just memorize vocabulary, we turn to dedicated language-learning books. Astrid also publishes free Spanish and Indonesian phrasebooks on her own site with 20 to 21 essential travel phrases for each.<\/p>\n Some of our favorite language learning for travel has come from in-person classes rather than virtual ones. We have taken lessons in Indonesia, Spain, and Mexico, usually with the kids and parents in separate classes at the same time.<\/p>\n In Spain, we saw a tutor twice a week for about two months, followed by pizza afterward. That routine gave our kids a sense of stability, and it turned language learning for travel into something that felt like living somewhere rather than just passing through.<\/p>\n Watching movies with subtitles, ordering our own food, and asking where the bathroom is are all small but real forms of language learning for travel. We once accidentally watched a dubbed Spanish version of an American movie in Mexico and still followed most of the plot.<\/p>\n Language tours have also pushed our language learning for travel further. A Spanish-only trolley tour in San Miguel de Allende and a troubadour tour in Guanajuato both forced us to tune in closely, even when we only caught part of what was said.<\/p>\n Submit your worldschooling questions here!<\/a><\/p>\n \nWorldschooling podcast episode summary<\/h2>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Worldschooling-Q-and-A-Episode-46-1024x576.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/a><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewanderingdaughter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/cabo-san-lucas-02-23-2023-family-trip-9_original-edited-1024x769.jpg.webp)
\n<\/picture>\n<\/figure>\nRecommended books for language learning for travel<\/h4>\n
Why language learning for travel starts with respect<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nRespect and empathy as the real goal<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBuilding humility into how we travel<\/h4>\n
Apps and structured tools for language learning for travel<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nDuolingo as our daily habit<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nBabbel, Busuu, and Lingopie for extra practice<\/h4>\n
JumpSpeak and Conjugato for specific gaps<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\nBeyond apps: everyday language learning for travel<\/h3>\n
Podcasts that build listening comprehension<\/h4>\n
<\/a><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nBooks, dictionaries, and phrasebooks<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\nIn-person classes and family routine<\/h4>\n
Movies, restaurants, and language tours<\/h4>\n
<\/figure>\n