Hi Reader,

I caught myself running through a French conversation out loud while on a walk yesterday, and I'm pretty sure I came across like some caffeinated flashcard robot to anyone who saw me. Language apps are open on my phone after a few months of neglect, and I'm having full-blown conversations with AI like we're besties.

That combination only means one thing, a trip is near! This fall, I'll be in France and Italy for partner meetings, and rather than show up rusty, I'm getting my skills on point. After living in both France and Italy and using my language skills to build our partner relationships over the past decade, I have a few thoughts.

First and foremost, let me get this out of the way... yes, language skills matter! You'll show respect for locals, better understand the nuances of sites and sips, and develop more genuine relationships along the way.

The Effort Matters Most

The thing is that you don't need to be fluent to achieve that. Not even close. You just need to try. It's a low bar with a genuinely outsized payoff. Even a simple greeting goes a long way.

Four Things Actually Worth Learning

Skip the grammar rabbit hole. Focus on ordering, asking for directions, finding a bathroom, and basic pleasantries: please, thank you, excuse me. Armed with those, you can handle almost anything a trip throws at you. It's the fastest insider track there is!

FYI, if you want to dive deeper and are headed to Italy, check out our article covering over 100 basic Italian expressions for travel.

My Actual Method (Hint: It's NOT Duolingo)

Duolingo is a fine app if you're just starting out. But I'm more of a seasoned speaker (level B2/C1 if that means anything to you). As such, I prefer other apps for practicing actual conversations. For that, I use Babbel or Jumpspeak, both of which adapt to your level instead of drilling you on useless vocabulary.

More recently, I started using ChatGPT to build a study plan and have it serve as my language tutor (full disclosure: its accent can be bad, so don't trust it for pronunciation). I'll also regularly watch shows in the language with corresponding subtitles, so I can read along while I listen. Family Business is a fun French comedy set in Paris, and Suburra is a gritty Italian crime series based (shockingly) on a true story.

What I'm Leaning On For This Trip

I'm comfortable enough now to get real use out of TV5Monde, which turns actual French news broadcasts into learning material. Le Podcast Fluidité is the other one I keep coming back to, built around culture and vocabulary together instead of rote drilling, and that's what actually makes it stick.

One final note. If learning Italian is on your list, our team member Rachel does one-on-one Italian coaching, and she's the person I would recommend for any serious learner. We can also refer you to our colleague in France, who offers private sessions. Just reply to this email if you're interested, and we'll connect you.

So au revoir, ciao, and I'll see you on the other side of a flashcard!