Quick summary: Language learning expert is urging British holidaymakers to overcome their anxieties about perfect grammar and focus instead on using basic, practical phrases when travelling abroad this summer. Shifting the mindset from academic fluency towards simple communication significantly enhances travel interactions, as even minor attempts to speak the local tongue foster mutual respect and openness. Embracing this realistic approach is vital for individual well-being and mental health because it relieves performance pressure, builds conversational confidence, and transforms potentially stressful language barriers into rewarding opportunities for cultural connection.
With summer holidays approaching, a language expert is encouraging Brits to stop worrying about speaking perfectly and focus instead on using simple, practical language when travelling abroad.
Many travellers hesitate to speak because they believe they need to sound fluent before ordering food, asking for directions, or talking to local people.
Julie Richard, a language expert at Kelvinside, said even a few local phrases can make a significant difference to a holiday experience. “Learning a language is about communication, not perfection. If you manage to get your message across, even with mistakes, that is still a success,” she said.
‘Please’ and ‘thank you’ are a really good beginning. Even trying to say those basics in the local language goes a long way. It shows respect, and local people are often much more likely to help you or have a conversation if they can see you are trying.”
Focus on practical communication
Richard warned there is no quick route to fluency despite the growing number of language learning apps and websites.
Instead, she recommends immersion, active listening, and using language in real situations.
“Going to the country is the best thing you can do because you are immersed in it. You have to survive and work things out,” she said.
“You could sit with a book for hours and learn hundreds of words, but by the time someone speaks to you, the conversation may have already moved on. For a holiday, it is much better to learn the basics and actually use them.”
She advises travellers to learn phrases they are likely to need. “Pick a few words or phrases that are useful for your trip. Maybe one week your goal is learning how to order in a restaurant, ask for the bill or ask for something you need.”
“Do not try to take on too much. Your brain can only hold a certain amount at once, so small chunks are much more useful. Learn five words, practise them, and do not move on until you feel confident.”
Richard also encouraged people to avoid translating complex English sentences into another language. “Sometimes people think, ‘This is the level I speak at in English, so I need to say the exact same thing in French or Spanish.’ But your English will be far beyond your level in another language.”
“Keep it really simple. Use short sentences. If you only know the present tense, use that. Do not fall apart halfway through a sentence because you are trying to use the future tense or make it sound perfect.”
“If part of the sentence is in the local language and part of it is in English, that is okay. You are still communicating.”
Do not fear mistakes
Richard said travellers should not be discouraged if locals switch to English or correct their pronunciation. “If someone answers you in English, let them. But do not let it stop you trying again next time.”
“If people correct you, it is usually because they are trying to help, not because they want to stop you speaking. Think about how much broken English we hear every day. It is completely fine to go to another country and use broken French or broken Spanish.”
For those who feel nervous, she suggested carrying written notes of useful phrases. “If you are anxious, have it written down. Once you have said it a few times, your pronunciation will become clearer, and you will feel more confident.”
“There is a real proud moment when you have practised a phrase, you use it, and it works. You think, ‘That was amazing.’ That is how confidence builds.”
Richard’s language learning tips
Learn essential phrases first
Richard recommends starting with practical expressions such as “please”, “thank you”, “can I have?”, and “do you speak English?”
“Even if you start a sentence in the local language and finish it in English, you are still having a go. That effort matters.”
Use mini flashcards
“Have your keywords for the holiday and do five words a day. Do not move on to the next five until you feel confident with them.”
“Some people like writing them out, some people like colour, some people like saying them out loud. You need to find what works for you.”
Practise speaking aloud
“Repeat the words, sing them, shout them, talk to the mirror, or talk to your cat.”
“I always tell pupils that pets are great because they listen and they do not answer back. It helps you stop feeling self-conscious.”
Use pronunciation tools
“There is so much help now. You can type a word into Google and often there is a speaker icon so you can hear it and repeat it.”
“That is really useful for pronunciation, especially in languages where the way a word looks and the way it sounds can be very different.”
Watch familiar programmes in another language
Richard recommends changing language settings on streaming services such as Netflix, Disney+, or Prime.
“You can watch your favourite show or film in another language. Because you already know what is happening, you start to pick up common words naturally.”
“You are hearing the language; the pronunciation patterns and the words people actually use. That repeated listening really helps.”
She added that subtitles can be useful, particularly for difficult languages or unfamiliar alphabets. “If you know the scene is happening in a café, for example, you can start matching what you are hearing with what you are seeing. It makes the language feel much more real.”
Treat it as enjoyment, not a test
“The last time lots of people studied a language was at school, so it can feel like you are being tested. But this is not about grammar marks.”
“It should feel enjoyable. The aim is to get across what you are trying to say, not to be perfect.”
Research shows that many Brits feel anxious about language barriers when travelling abroad, with a significant number making little effort to learn basic local phrases despite the benefits for confidence and interactions with local people.