There are several advantages in learning the language or at least some useful words before visiting a country.

It is a lot easier to make contact with the local people when you are able to communicate in their native language. There are several countries where a lot of the habitants does not even understand a simple word as “YES” or “NO” (unbelievable, nevertheless the truth). A lot of webpages is unavailable in English. Your only hope is then a poor (nevertheless the best) translation by babelfish. To know only a few local words or sentences will help you a lot.

This is the two webpages that I believe is the best when it comes to free language courses:

livemocha.com
I’m using this myself and I would absolutely recomend it. Livemocha is a social networking community focused on learning foreign languages. It provides free online courses in German, Mandarin Chinese, French, Spanish, and Hindi with plans to expand to other languages in the future. Fantastic page!

BBC språk
The BBC offers comprehensive online courses in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin Chinese, Portuguese, and Greek, with slightly briefer introductions to several other languages.

When leaving your home to explore the world:
Remember to bring your phrasebook and use it frequently while abroad. You will learn a lot from it. Don’t be shy, talk as is you know what you are doing. No one will judge you because of a few mispronounces. Instead they will admire your effort.

The organized trip in Peru has now been comfirmed and ordered.

Day 1 Lima
Arrive in Lima at any time.

Day 2-3 Amazon Rainforest
Fly to Puerto Maldonado, on the edge of the Amazon jungle. Take a motorized canoe up the Tambopata River to our remote rainforest lodge. Explore the rainforest by foot and dugout canoe with our expert local guides. The Amazon presents excellent wildlife-spotting opportunities.

Day 4-5 Cuzco
Travel by canoe out of the jungle before flying to Cuzco in the high Andes. On Day 5, take a guided tour of the city to learn about its rich, fascinating history.

Day 6-9 Inca Trail
Begin a once in a lifetime journey on the ancient trail of the Incas with a morning trip to km 82, where our hike begins. Our local porters and guides ensure that the trip is worry-free, and fascinating ruins and spectacular mountain scenery fill every day of the hike. On the final day, we climb the steps to Intipunku, the ‘Sun Gate’, to watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Return to Cuzco by train in the afternoon on Day 9.

Day 10 Cuzco
Enjoy a day in Cuzco to discover its many back alleys, museums and churches built on Inca ruins. Explore the sights and sounds of this great colonial town or spend the day mountain biking or rafting.

Day 11-12 Puno / Lake Titicaca
Enjoy spectacular views of countryside and mountains on a full day of travel through the Andes from Cuzco to Puno. Take a boat trip across Lake Titicaca in the morning to visit the floating reed islands of the Uros people. Visit various islands to enjoy the lake’s scenic splendour and meet the friendly local villagers.

Day 13 Lima
Short drive to Juliaca before flying to Lima. Enjoy one last night out on the town.

To those of you who are interested a more detailed itinerary it can be viewed here:
Quest of the gods