Traveling to Europe or Asia this year? Then you are undoubtedly already aware well in advance of the usefulness of learning the natural languages prior to embarking on your journey. While English is widely spoken in almost all of Europe, there are many times in several countries where some familiarity of the local language would be a boon.

For this reason, Franklin Electronic Publishers manufactures and distributes a wide range of language translators designed expressly for travels, in that these small electronic devices fit snugly into a shirt pocket. The “Euro Interpreter” is the most useful cross-country device, carrying full translations for the 12 most-used Western- and Eastern-European languages, including such notoriously difficult languages as Greek and Turkish. For any extended European vacation or business trip, the “Euro Interpreter” is a must.

Much the same can be said for the “Pimsleur Instant Conversation: Mandarin Chinese.” With the rise of China as a world superpower, more North Americans will be traveling to the vast country in the years ahead. This language training program from Pimsleur in an exhaustive learn-at-home software package containing 8 audio CD’s designed to make one proficient in conversational Chinese. China is often as difficult a country to traverse as any in the world today, and some serious dedication to learning the language beforehand is essential. Pimsleur’s recognized language teaching expertise comes through clearly in its “Mandarin Chinese” program.

Instant Conversation: Mandarin Chinese

The Pimsleur® Method provides the most effective language -- learning program ever developed. More than one million people every year use it to gain real conversational skills in new languages quickly and easily -- without books, written exercises, or drills.