Phrasebooks without the books
This won’t help you if you don’t have an iPod Classic or iPod Nano, but if you do you can get yourself a language phrasebook without actually picking up a physical book.
Phrasebooks are a great idea and I remember traveling around with one, but they can be a bit cumbersome, especially if you’re already carrying a camera bag and some souvenirs. However, an iPod is nice and tiny and can fit right in your pocket and you may have it on you anyway. Collins has put together collections of approximately 500 different phrases and you can buy them for French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Portuguese, and Spanish. Created to be handy you can skip to the appropriate section for your needs, such as emergency, food, tourist info, and more.
With the iPod’s screen, you get a visual translation along with the audio in your ears so you can hear how to pronounce it and have a reminder as you try to stumble your way through your request to know how to get back to your hotel after a day of wandering. And everyone should know how to ask, “¿Donde está el baño?” (where is the bathroom?).
They cost approximately ten dollars each and are perfect for people who don’t want to add heavy books to their travel necessities. It’s unfortunate that it’s not available for other media players but maybe they’ll get around to it soon.
(source)
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POSTED IN: Language Utilities
3 opinions for Phrasebooks without the books
Alex-Sirened
May 14, 2008 at 12:27 pm
That’s awesome to know! I just wish they had it in Dutch!
Geoff
May 16, 2008 at 11:26 am
What a brillianit idea!
I’m waiting for it to happen on my phone - speak into it in English, hold it against the other person’s ear, and have the phone speak to them in their own language!
Suz
May 19, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Wow, what a great resource! Thanks so much!
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