5 Ways Language Podcasts Will Prepare You For Solo Travel

How I used podcasts to learn conversational Spanish and Portuguese before travelling to Colombia and Brazil.

Shakira was my first crush.

Thanks to Shakira, visiting South America was my childhood dream.

Colombia seemed so far away. I lived in Asia for 18 years, wondering what sort of magical place South America might be.

Fast forward to 2018 — I’m an English teacher in Toronto, with students from all around the world.

My classes were always a unique mix, but I’ve never had a class without a Colombian or Brazilian student.

From my attendance lists, I became familiar with the long names of my Hispanic American students that never fit in my tiny box. I learned that if the first letter was an “R” in Brazilian Portuguese, it sounded like an English “H” — I mispronounced “Renata” for an embarrassingly long time.

English only in class.

But during breaks, I would overhear my students chattering away in Spanish and Portuguese. At lunchtime, I’d eat with my students, and they’d share stories about where they were from.

Through my students, I travelled the world every day. Mexico in the morning, Japan at lunch, and Turkey before the end of class.

Fridays were heart-breaking.

Students would graduate and return home from their brief Canadian adventure. They’d be full of joy, grateful at achieving their dreams of journeying abroad in a new language.

“Come visit our country someday! You’re always welcome.” My students said.

“I promise I will.” I suck at goodbyes.

When the lights went out, a part of me was missing.

Being a teacher is to give your heart and soul and watch it waltz out of the classroom every other week. It comes with the territory. My students left my world as quickly as they entered it.

Related posts:

Fear of public speaking is known as glossophobia. It is one of the most common anxieties that many individuals have, whether they are speaking to friends, strangers, or a combination of the two. It’s…

Choosing a mortgage is one of the most important financial decisions you will make, so you should do your research and ask questions. While refinancing mortgage, ask questions about the features and…

Payroll Fraud happens 27% in all businesses and most companies’ are not able to make any action about it. Many entrepreneurs and managers believe that payrolls cannot be changed, that too in an…