8 Topics To Learn When Learning A Language: For Beginners [2025]

Learning a language can sometimes get challenging. But not if you work with great and interesting topics. Being a successful language learner mostly depends on the topics you choose to learn in your foreign language. If you try to stuff a lot of useless vocabulary into your head, it won’t work very well.

I’ve already learned 3 foreign languages and keep learning more. Having a purpose why I learn them and learning vocabulary in topics I knew I would need to speak the language has helped me immensely.

So, in this article, I’ll give you 8 topics to learn when learning a language to succeed on your language-learning journey. They’ll keep you on track and motivated. So, let’s get into it.

List Of The Topics To Learn When Learning A New Language

First, you must ask yourself why you want to learn the language. This clear reason will help you to learn the language and keep you motivated.

So here is a list of reasons (topics) for which you want to learn a foreign language:

• Travel
• Work
• Going Abroad/Exchange semester
• Expat living in a new country (everyday life)
• Business
• Gardening
• Music
• Sports

Let’s break each topic into more specific situations to help you learn the language. Each section also contains a few ideas for practicing speaking within the topics, so check it out.

💡 NOTE: Obviously, there are many more topics; I’ve just selected the most common ones. So think for yourself, and select situations/topics where you’ll need to use the language.

1. TRAVEL

Travel is one of the most motivational topics. Here at Voices of Travel, I’m all about learning languages for travel, so if you are a traveler, you’re right here. Or you’re going on a holiday and want to learn the basics of a language to communicate with locals.

Or gain a general understanding of the language.

Within travel, you can choose the following topics when learning a language:

• airport
• transportation
• hotel
• restaurant
• beach
• sightseeing tour

When learning a new language, you can stick to these specific topics within the travel industry. So now, choose a few topics that interest you. Or choose those you think will be most helpful when traveling to a new country. 

Once you have your topics, you’ll start learning new vocabulary within these topics. I call it learning topic-specific vocabulary.

You’ll think about all the phrases and words you need to communicate in each situation. So, for instance, let’s choose the airport.

Write down all the words you’ll need to communicate at the airport. It can be anything from luggage check-in, words on a plane ticket, departures, arrivals, going through security, boarding, and claiming your luggage.

After, you can start creating sentences and conversations within the topic to practice your vocabulary.

👉 READ ALSO: 7 Benefits Of Learning A Foreign Language For Travel

2. WORK

Another reason you might want to learn a new language is a job or work. For example, I learned German because I wanted to work in a German-speaking country, particularly Switzerland. In my home country (Slovakia), salaries are abysmal.

As a young adult, I knew I didn’t want to be a slave in my 9-5 job, barely earning 500$ a month. But I knew that in Switzerland, I could be much better off if I got a job there.

So, I started learning German to secure a better financial future. It was in my early 20s. I managed to learn German. Thanks to this experience, I was able to work as a receptionist in Swiss hotels in some of the best ski resorts and earn a lot more than I would in Slovakia. That also helped me to save up for my travels and future.

You might be in a similar situation. Or you may want to move to another country and get a job there. The topics within the job industry entirely depend on the job itself you’ll want to do. So again, think about all the words you would need to communicate in your job.

For me, as a receptionist in a hotel, these were topics such as:

• check-in guests
• check-out guests
• giving information about ski resort
• restaurant vocabulary (food & drinks)
• billing
• concierge

👉 READ ALSO: How To Set Achievable Language Learning Goals: 9-Step Guide

3. GOING ABROAD/EXCHANGE SEMESTER

Another reason to learn a language is to go abroad. It can be a gap year after high school or an exchange semester from University, or you simply want to go to a new country to experience something new in your life.

In this case, again, think about all the situations when you speak the local language. These topics can be and are not limited to:

• housing
• meeting new friends
• going out (restaurant, disco, beach)
• regular conversation
• University subjects

I started learning Spanish at the University, and then we had the opportunity to go abroad for an exchange semester. I chose Barcelona because I felt it would be a great chance to practice Spanish.

I spent half a year living in the city, which helped immensely with my Spanish skills. It was some of the best times of my life, and knowing Spanish definitely made it even better.

It might also be useful to learn basic vocabulary such as introducing yourself, greetings, talking about your hobbies, daily routine, time, etc.

Check out my guide on what to learn in a new language to see what exactly to learn when you’re just starting with new language learning.

4. EXPAT LIVING IN A NEW COUNTRY (EVERYDAY LIFE)

Another interesting topic and reason you would want to learn a foreign language is when you’re an expat in a new country. Or you are about to move to a new country and live there. It’s one of the best motivations.

These are the topics within which you can learn a language:

• housing
• shopping
• negotiation on a market
• administration
• meeting new friends or neighbors
• free-time activities
• talking about your job

So the first thing you might need is housing. You’ll be moving abroad and have to ensure you get a nice place to stay, whether a house or a flat. In many countries, locals don’t speak English, so you should learn some housing vocabulary. It can include the names of each room, rent per month, fixed charges, kitchen appliances, etc.

Consider all the words you need to speak when getting a new flat or house in that country.

Next, you might want to learn some food vocabulary when going shopping. For example, think about a trolley, store department, paying with a card or cash, getting a bag at the counter, etc. Also, learn how to negotiate prices on a market (especially in South America, Africa, or Asia).

And the list goes on and on. Imagine each situation in which you’ll want to speak in a new country and learn vocabulary within the topic.

I recently moved to Italy, so I also started learning Italian to get an apartment, set up my life here, and interact with locals.

5. BUSINESS

Business is an interesting topic, too. If you’re a businessman and have to travel overseas for a meeting, partnership, or negotiation, this will be your main topic. Or you’re about to start your business studies in a foreign language.

Focus on the following topics to learn a new language:

• airport & business class
• business meeting
• small talks
• talking about markets and economy
• accounting
• risk management
• investments

These are only examples of topics you’ll need to communicate in business. Again, think for yourself and gather all the vocabulary you’ll need to speak in each situation.

When I was preparing to guide a tour in Barcelona in Spanish, I was practicing speaking with my tutor online on iTalki – try it as well and prepare for your business meeting or travels.

➡ Prepare for your business meeting in a foreign language on iTalki.

6. GARDENING

Gardening is a popular topic, especially if you want to learn a language. If you’re interested in gardening, you’ll be genuinely excited about learning the words in a foreign language.

Or just pick any other topic that interests you and start learning.

The topics within gardening might be:

• names of plants
• names of trees
• plant problems
• indoor gardening
• soil
• growing fruit trees, vegetables, herbs, nut trees

Again, think about all the gardening vocabulary, write them down in your language notebook, and memorize them.

Once you master the vocabulary, I recommend you go outside and talk to yourself about gardening. If you have a garden, go outside and look at each tree or plant. Try to pronounce the words of each element in your garden.

💡 PRO TIP: Imagine you’re giving somebody a tour of your garden in a foreign language.

👉 READ ALSO: How To Overcome The Fear Of Speaking A Foreign Language

7. MUSIC

Music is a major topic. It can be you’re about to buy a guitar or piano from somebody speaking a foreign language. Or you want to find a community abroad that is interested in music.

In this case, you can learn vocabulary in the following topics:

• musical instruments
• types of music
• talking about music type you love
• musical celebrities
• music genres
• modern music
• lyrics from your favourite songs

Besides learning vocabulary within a musical topic, I recommend putting on your favorite song and learning the lyrics. Songs are one of the best ways to learn a language. Especially if you love the songs, it’ll get you pumped and motivated.

Once you learn the lyrics and meaning of the words, you can sing the entire song in a foreign language by yourself, which will motivate you even more.

8. SPORTS

For all the sports fans, start with anything related to sports if you want to learn a new language. Learn all the sports vocabulary that comes to your mind. If you are a professional sportsman, pick your sport and learn all the words you need to understand about that sport.

The sports topics can be, for example:

• types of sports
• movements (exercise)
• names of tools for each sport
• places where the sport is played

Find an interview (in the news or a magazine) with your favorite sportsman and learn vocabulary from the interview. Go through the interview and learn vocabulary from it.

Later, you can read a book about a famous sports personality. Or watch a sports match in the foreign language you’re learning; how fun is that?

It’ll all boost your language skills.

BONUS: How To Learn A New Language As An Adult: Step-By-Step Guide

I’ve developed my own method for language learning that involves learning vocabulary in topics. It’s one of the best ways to learn a new language as an adult. I believe you don’t need a special talent or a bilingual family to learn a language.

So check out my article (by clicking on the image below) and see how you can learn a language as an adult by following my step-bu-step guide:

Get My Language Travel Notebook

I’ve designed a language notebook for you to keep track of new vocabulary. So whenever you want to learn a new word, wirte it down under a respective topic. It’ll make your learning a lot more efficient.

Click on the image below to get the language travel notebook:

First 100 Words & Phrases To Learn In A New Language

To help you even more to begin the process of learning a new language, I also have a list of 100 words and phrases to learn when you’re just starting. Learning vocabulary in topics helps, but you also need to incorporate the very basics.

So get the sheet of easy 100 words & phrases to learn in any language first:

FAQs

I’ve also answered some frequently asked questions about learning a new language. So check my answers below:

What To Talk About When Learning A Language?

Talk about yourself and ask the other person about him and his interests. If you don’t know where to start, prepare such small talk so you can communicate a bit with someone and get closer to locals if you’re traveling.

What Are The 5 C’s Of Learning A New Language?

Communication, cultures, connections, comparisons, and communities. They give you a deeper purpose for language learning than just following some institutional guidelines.

The 5 C’s suggest that learning a new language is easier if you can incorporate it into your life in one of these aspects. It’ll motivate you more.

What Are 4 Skills For Learning A Language?

Reading, listening, writing, and speaking are the 4 main language skills you should master when learning a new language. Reading and listening are input language skills; once you master these, you’ll have some outcomes and be able to write and speak.

I recommend focusing on all 4 language skills at the same time to make the learning process faster.

WRAP-UP: Topics To Learn When Learning A New Language

These are some interesting topics to learn when learning a new language. Be creative and think about situations where you would like to speak the language. It’ll naturally motivate you. Make the learning process fun, and practice speaking with someone about these topics.

If you have any questions or need help learning languages, contact me at info(at)voicesoftravel.com.

Happy Learning!