When I was in high school, our second year Spanish class met at the same time and in the same room as the French class. It was quite interesting because one teacher taught both classes, and several of the students were taking both. I picked up a few phrases, but I couldn't say them now. It's been too long. Beautiful language.

If you have never taken a class before, I do not believe that you will be able to understand what a French native says to you on the basis of a phrase book alone. The language is too complex, you will not be able to pick words from others. I studied the several languages in school, and after school too, and do not think that you will truly be able to get by in any language understanding what is said to you. You might be able to ask things, but are not likely to understand responses.

It is true that many people will have trouble by merely reading a phrase book. After so much travel, however, it gets easier. It depends on how long you plan on staying in the country, and how much you plan on interacting with others. It is not always necessary to learn an entire language before traveling to a country. If you are short on time, a phrase book or language book is the way to go.

Yes, experience in doing this is always a bonus. But unless you are able to listen to a native for some time before going, the words in the book will be hard to pick out when someone is talking to you. You might be able to talk to them, but not understand what they say back-because people don't follow scripts like are in many phrase books. They may use a word that you don't know, and because it is in a sentence that you cannot break into words, you wouldn't be able to even look it up, know what I mean?

I understand what you mean, it makes sense. It's hard to understand people if you only read a book. I think that my approach is more practical if you are wanting to read signs or maps, for example.

I agree, that would be a big help. There are many audio courses available for self language study, and they work they really do-I started out with a few before progressing hugely with other study. They just require a bit of time before you go that's all.

What languages have you studied? I'm just curious. In the past, I have studied Italian, Spanish, French, Russian, and German, but I don't really grasp onto all of them. I only know the basics of the languages. I am best at Spanish, Italian, and French, because they are so similar!

In school I studied German first, then French, then Spanish. I started British sign language too. After school I studied Greek, which was my favourite of all languages, and Italian, the later being horrible in my opinion. I just didn't have a good time with it.

I've studied both Spanish and American Sign Language. I love sign language, because it reminds me of cultural dances, and I feel like I'm more connected to the words than when I speak in English or Spanish.