5 Applications to Download Before Studying Abroad

By Debora Aberastury on October 16, 2017

Name a company, website, resource and it is more than likely that there is an application for that. There are applications that you use on a daily basis, but it is different when you are studying abroad. There are other needs, other activities — you are literally in another world. Your phone can help you explore that, and here are five applications to download before you hop on that plane to start your semester abroad.

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1. Google Translate

Hear me out: this is NOT accurate nearly ever. But it will give you a general idea of what something says, and also help you translate simple words on a whim. Let’s say that you are in Italy, and you are trying to read the menu. Type out a few words on the Google Translate application, and you will get at least a general idea of what it is. Better to have an idea than to choose randomly, especially if you are looking for something in particular.

The other great thing about the application: you can choose to download a certain language’s dictionary to access offline. You won’t have to try to get into a Wi-Fi network just to check to see what a certain sign says, for example.

2. Google Maps

You will need this not just to get directions to wherever you want to go, but it will also track where you are and where you are headed — which can be creepy, and it might make you tempted to disable the application’s location services. But don’t! I cannot count the times that Google Maps helped me get back to my hostel when I got lost, helped me find that place I was looking for, and generally just helped me figure out exactly how to get where I needed to go.

Note, though: It does help to have an idea of the roads in whichever city you are at/where the major attractions are.

3. Yelp & TripAdvisor

You might already have these applications on your phone, but something that you might not know is that you can use it throughout the world for food recommendations, museum recommendations, etc. Some places may not have the most reviews, so you might still have to wing it, but at least it’ll give you a better idea of where to go and how to get there, no matter where you are in the world (with Wi-Fi, that is).

4. Whatsapp

If you don’t have this downloaded already, download it! It is not just a great way to stay connected with friends and family back home, but it is also a great way to connect with the people that you meet along your journey. It is super popular throughout the world, though you do need a Wi-Fi connection to access it.

5. Pocket

You might find yourself on the subway, on a train, or even standing in line, with absolutely nothing to do. Pocket can come to the rescue. You can save articles to read later, offline, as well as videos. This is not to say that you should concentrate ALL your attention on your phone (keep an eye and hand on your bags!), but this is great for when you want to blend in a little, seem like a local, and also to pass some time.

Expert tip: Download articles that are relevant to your classes! So if you find yourself alone in a café or at a restaurant, you can do schoolwork while exploring.

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