What is the Travel Bug?

The Travel Bug is simple! It is the quickest and easiest way to learn and remember the 14 most commonly used words and phrases in 11 languages.

The Travel Bug is a language/communication aid. It is an instructional audio track for travellers aimed at breaking down the language barrier and building instant rapport by teaching the language basics.

Using one easy to follow audio track, The Travel Bug simplifies the "art" of speaking another language. By listening to the instructions then repeating at your own pace, you could be speaking 11 different languages before lunch!

If most people can speak English why should I bother speaking their language?

Travelling to another country is like entering someone else’s home. When visiting another country, you should always show your host the utmost respect & courtesy. The best way to do this is to make an effort to speak in your host’s native tongue. Your host won’t expect you to speak fluently in their own language, but they will appreciate you making the effort. Even if it is just to say "Hello" or "Thank you", your efforts will be appreciated, and by building this instant rapport your efforts will be rewarded.

Example: When I flew into Montreal a few years ago I contracted a cold. By the time the plane landed I was deaf in one ear and my throat was killing me. I consulted my French phrase book and found out how to ask directions to a chemist. I approached someone and asked my question in French without a hitch. The man answered me straight away then stared at my blank expression and asked me, "Do you speak English?"

This is why The Travel Bug is not about teaching the entire language. The emphasis is on the communication of courtesies.

Problem:   Other language tutorials are too complicated. They concentrate on grammar and conversation and require too much time and effort for the average traveller for the purpose of their trip.

Solution:    The Travel Bug is quick and simple. It eradicates the time and effort required to learn languages by minimising the workload and supplying only the information the traveller needs to know.

Problem:    Other language tutorials involve learning words through conversation. This method of learning is very time consuming especially if you only want to know a few words, which can often be jumbled up in the middle of a sentence.

Solution:   For The Travel Bug we have selected the 14 most commonly used, essential words and phrases as well as numbers 1 to 10. These words are all prompted first in English, then pronounced individually in the required language in an easy to follow format.

Problem:    Other language tutorials have the required words prompted in English by an English speaking person, then the foreign translation spoken by a native of that country. In theory this seems like a common sense approach, but it in practice it doesn’t work very well. The problem is that listening to a foreign voice pronounce a foreign word requires the listener to already have an ear for the foreign language. As with many languages there are sounds that English speaking people have never used before. This means that our ears are not trained to hear those sounds and our tongues, throats and mouths are not trained to make them.

Solution:    When researching words for The Travel Bug, we specifically intended that the translations be in the common language of the people, whilst at the same time being polite. As our Arabic friend Amet said, "I don’t say, good day to you sir. I say, hello. In Hebrew I don’t say Ken (yes), I say Bisedah."

Problem:    Other language tutorials teach all the variations of words used in differing circumstances. A simple "hello" can vary depending on what time of day it is. A simple "goodbye" can vary depending on who is leaving and who is staying. Words can also vary depending if spoken to an individual or to a group, then there is also the complication of masculine & feminine form. Learning all these variations can be time consuming and confusing.

Solution:    For The Travel Bug, where possible, we have purposely selected individual words that can be used by anyone in all circumstances. This means less to remember and no confusion.

Problem:  Other language tutorials usually include a book and one or two audio tracks to completely learn only one language. This is fine if you are travelling to only one country and intend to stay there for a lengthy period. If, however, you are travelling to many countries for shorter periods of time, the one book and two tapes multiplied by six countries just adds up to hours of listening, hours of reading, heaps of confusion and half a suitcase of excess luggage!

Solution:   The Travel Bug is quick and simple. It has multiple languages on the one audio track and the only book involved is inside the protective cover. It’s only a matter of listening for a few minutes per country and referring to the small pocket guide at will. This means no wasted time and no excess luggage.

Problem:    Because other language tutorials are so time consuming and involve so many tapes and books, people tend to forget how to speak the required language from one country to the next. Quick reference to the tutorials is impossible and the idea of studying on the run is not practical.

Solution:   The Travel Bug is very compact and portable. Avoiding confusion with accent and pronunciation between one country and the next is easy as it involves only a couple of minutes listening per country. The associated booklet is pocket size and perfect for quick reference.