Got Opinions? Speakout Language Guide
 

Has anyone use any of the Speakout pocket size language guides - dictionary, menu decoder, and phrasebook in one? Is it any good?

I'm thinking it would be better than using my pda to look up translation needs. I wouldn't want to carry the pda around with me anyways.

Funny you wrote this, as I plan to try the Language Map (in Italian) by Kristine Kershul. There are "Maps" for many languages. I've been impressed with her method of teaching--using "Italian in 10 Minutes a Day" From the description, Language Map is a laminated map that folds up, has useful phrases and words, and is easy to carry. I found the book at B & N but haven't looked for the Map yet.

Here's the web site, if interested:

http://10minutesaday.com/

I think, one of these days, I'll have a language guide garage sale!

Seriously, unless you want to use the guides before your trip to learn some of the language(s) of the countries you will be visiting,I found that any of the guides I have bought in the past have been of little use in "real world" situations. I get so flustered trying to find my way to the proper phrase(s)that, by the time I'm done, my conversation partner either has called his cousin who at one time worked in Chicago and speaks English, or we finally resorted to signs, etc.

One of my favorite situations was when we travelled with our kids out in the back country in Greece. We stopped for lunch in a small village. We didn't speak Greek (only German, French and Italian), they didn't speak any of these languages. Eventually, they took us into the kitchen, showed us all the food that was cooking, boiling and baking, and we chose a great meal. Even the kids loved it.

In most European countries, including the new EU countries, there will always be someone who can help with English or any other language you may even the faintest familiarity with.

Tip: Look for a young person, they usually learn English in school and are eager to try it out on you.

Just back from B & N where I bought the Itlaian Language "map" . It's great for my purposes, for a trip to Rome.