The language barrier can be a challenge when vagabonding. At the time, it can seem frustrating. Usually, it's funny in retrospect when you talk about it with friends. Technology is evolving fast, however. Smart people around the world are working feverishly to break down the walls separating us from communicating with each other. Voice and...

In how many languages do you know how to say "hello"? If you can answer, "11 or more," you qualify as a hyperpolyglot, according to this article in The Economist : Foreign Languages: The Gift of Tongues . The article starts with a historical figure, Cardinal Mezzofanti of Bologna, Italy. He was famed as a...

"You'll learn more in your first month of travel then in all your years in school." I've heard this sentiment expressed by many vagabonders far and wide. Nothing will get you as interested in history, geography, art, architecture, economics, politics, and religion as being somewhere else. Names on a map become touchstones for memories and...

Communication technology is getting better all the time, but how about their human users? They may still lag behind the times, as globalization brings people closer, while they can't speak to each other in a common language. Matt Gross, writer of the NY Times Frugal Traveler Blog, set out to find a way to improve...

In a previous post here at Vagablogging , I wrote about what tools you can use to self-study a language. While your choice of tools will determine the success of your program, your approach to studying can make the learning process easier and more enriching. Here are some things you should keep in mind while...

Learning a new language can be an enriching experience. Unfortunately, not everyone has the time or patience to sit through foreign language classes. I remember having little success with my one semester of French in college. My professor was such a terror that I was afraid to sign up for a second semester. What really...