When learning vocabulary or non-Latin scripts, avoid rote memorization. It’s not very efficient and is painful to boot. Instead, use creative associations, mnemonics, and “imaginative memory” (such as the stories used in James Heisig’s “Remembering the Kanji”). And on the topic of Japanese, learning only katakana won’t get you very far. You might as well learn hiragana too as it is the primary script

Also, you say “learning languages is really, really difficult, even when you have plenty of time.” I have to disagree with you here. Language learning certainly takes time, but it needn’t be difficult. If you listen and read to content you enjoy and spend enough time putting into use what you learn with native speakers, the language acquisition process becomes enjoyable and more or less automatic.

I would add one more phrase to the top-5, right up there with please and thank you, and probably more helpful than hello: “I’m sorry.” The number of times I need to say “I’m sorry” when I’m traveling is phenomenal– whether apologizing for just smacking some poor commuter with my backpack, or for my lack of comprehension about what I’ve just ordered, it’s the one phrase that goes further than any other in turning an irritated glare into a compassionate smile.

I agree – being able to communicate definitely makes for a better travel experience. You don’t have to be fluent but just the effort of trying to use the local language makes a big difference.

Zuri

This is a great post…I’m glad it was reposted because I didn’t know about Vagabondish at that time. Now, of course, I am addicted!!

Here at Fundacion Arte del Mundo we are expanding our language school (Idiomas del Mundo)to include many languages. We are concentrating our efforts in conversational language for the traveler and local people here in Banos,Tungurahua, Ecuador which survives on eco and adventure tourism.

The more I teach (and travel) the more convinced I am that communication is the key to a good experience. Much can be done without words, but it surely helps to have a few necessary phrases in your head and people do appreciate it!

Where is *blank*
Where is the bathroom?
Help
How do I get to
Hello
Please
Thank you
Excuse me

The last 4 go a long way.

The last Lonely Planet phrasebook I used was the Vietnamese one, I spent some time to find the word “spoon” in the “dictionary” section which I could not find, then I spent some more time in the “Eating Out” section and still couldn’t find the right word.

Then I bought the Rough Guide Vietnamese phrasebook/dictionary: http://snipr.com/2ozo2

The book was extremely useful and probably the first dictionary-cum-phrasebook for all Vietnamese learners (or just travellers in Vietnam) who can read English. A comprehensive English-Vietnamese word list covers all common words used in daily conversation, in some words simple dialogues are provided. The Vietnamese-English section is rather weak.

This book is not as popular as the Lonely Planet phrasebook which is really a pity because it’s much better. Whenever I met some other travellers using the LP phrasebook (Vietnamese) I showed them this one of mine, all of them were impressed and hoped to buy this instead!