The practical language challenge for your next trip—with italki

A great trip is easier when you can do more than point at a menu or copy a phrase from your phone. Imagine checking into a hotel, asking a local for a recommendation, understanding the reply and asking one more question—without rehearsing every word in your head.

You do not need to become fluent before you travel. You need a small set of useful phrases, the confidence to try them and enough listening practice to handle the answer. A 30-day plan gives you a manageable way to prepare.

italki connects learners with online language teachers and tutors, making it possible to practise a destination’s language with a person before you leave. Its app listing highlights conversation practice and lessons with teachers across many languages.

THE RULE: LEARN FOR THE TRIP YOU’RE ACTUALLY TAKING

Skip the idea of memorising an entire textbook. Choose the language and situations you are most likely to encounter. A city break, a road trip, a family visit and a month working abroad all need different vocabulary.

City break: ordering food, asking for directions, buying tickets and checking into accommodation.
Road trip: asking about parking, fuel, road closures and opening hours.
Family or cultural visit: introductions, polite greetings, compliments and everyday conversation.
Longer stay: appointments, shopping, transport, work-related conversations and explaining a problem.

WEEK 1 — BUILD YOUR SURVIVAL KIT

Your first week is about useful building blocks, not perfect grammar. Start with greetings, please and thank you, numbers, time, directions and the phrases you need when you do not understand.

Days 1–2: greetings and introductions

Practise saying your name, where you are from, why you are visiting and how long you are staying.

Days 3–4: essential questions

Learn how to ask where something is, how much it costs, when something opens and whether someone speaks your language.

Days 5–6: polite repair phrases

Practise “Could you repeat that?”, “Could you speak more slowly?” and “How do you say…?” These phrases help keep a conversation going.

Day 7: your first speaking test

Record a one-minute introduction or practise it with a tutor. Note the words that are hard to retrieve and repeat them.

WEEK 2 — REHEARSE THE MOMENTS THAT CAN GO WRONG

Travel language becomes more useful when you practise a whole situation instead of isolated words. Build short role-plays around the moments when you are most likely to need help.

At a café or restaurant

Ask for a table, order a meal, request the bill and explain a dietary preference.

At a hotel

Confirm a reservation, ask about check-in, report a problem and request directions.

On public transport

Buy a ticket, confirm the platform or stop and ask whether a service is delayed.

When something goes wrong

Explain that you have lost an item, cannot find an address or need assistance.

This is where an italki lesson can be useful: ask your tutor to role-play the other person, speak at a realistic pace and vary the questions so you cannot rely on a memorised script.

WEEK 3 — TRAIN YOUR EAR, NOT JUST YOUR MEMORY

Knowing what to say is only half the challenge. People may speak quickly, shorten words or answer with a phrase you have never practised. Spend this week listening to short clips in your target language and noticing common expressions.

Listen to a short clip twice: first for the general meaning, then for phrases you recognise.
Choose five expressions you could use on your trip and repeat them aloud.
Ask a tutor to say the same message naturally, slowly and in a different way.
Practise asking for clarification instead of pretending you understood.

Do not aim to understand every word. Aim to recognise the main idea and know how to keep the interaction moving.

WEEK 4 — PUT IT ALL TOGETHER

In the final week, run through a mini version of your trip. Start with arrival, move through transport and accommodation, then finish with a meal or an activity. Try to complete each scenario without reading a prepared script.

Day 22: introduce yourself and explain the purpose of your visit.
Day 23: ask for directions and confirm you understood them.
Day 24: order food and ask a follow-up question.
Day 25: handle a booking or transport question.
Day 26: explain a simple problem and ask for help.
Day 27: practise a casual conversation with a local.
Day 28: repeat your hardest scenario with a tutor.
Days 29–30: review your phrase list and do one final role-play.

HOW TO USE italki WITHOUT WASTING A LESSON

You do not need to book a lesson every day to benefit from live practice. Decide which moments are hardest to rehearse alone, then use a tutor session to focus on those situations.

Tell the tutor your destination, approximate level and travel date.
Share three scenarios you want to practise before the lesson.
Ask for corrections on phrases that affect clarity, politeness or meaning.
Request a short list of natural expressions to review after the session.
At the end, repeat one scenario without notes to see what stuck.

Tutor prices, availability and lesson formats vary, so compare profiles and current booking details. Choose someone who fits your goals and schedule rather than choosing on price alone.

THE FIVE PHRASES WORTH LEARNING IN ANY LANGUAGE

Hello / Good morning.
Please and thank you.
Excuse me—could you help me?
Could you repeat that more slowly, please?
How do you say this in [language]?

Learn the local pronunciation and practise these phrases out loud. They are not a substitute for learning the language, but they give you a useful starting point when you need to interact.

DON’T MAKE THESE THREE MISTAKES

Trying to learn everything

A short list of phrases you can actually use is more useful for an imminent trip than a huge list you cannot recall.

Practising only by reading

Speaking and listening need practice too. Say phrases aloud and rehearse realistic exchanges.

Expecting to understand every reply

Travel conversations can be unpredictable. Learn to ask for repetition, clarification and slower speech.

YOUR PRE-TRIP LANGUAGE CHECKLIST

I can introduce myself and explain why I am visiting.
I can order food and ask about the bill.
I can ask for directions and confirm the answer.
I can check into accommodation and ask a question about my booking.
I can say I did not understand and ask someone to repeat themselves.
I have practised at least two realistic conversations aloud.

MAKE THE FIRST CONVERSATION EASIER

The goal is not to sound like a local in 30 days. It is to arrive with more confidence, a practical vocabulary and a plan for what to do when you get stuck. A little daily practice, paired with a few targeted conversations, can make your first real interaction feel less intimidating.

YOUR NEXT TRIP IS A GREAT REASON TO START. FIND A LANGUAGE TEACHER ON italki AND PRACTISE BEFORE YOU GO →

Affiliate Disclosure

This article contains an affiliate link. If you sign up or make a qualifying purchase through it, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.