Going to another country and not speaking their language?

D&J_052408 · June 2011

There are so many places I dream about going, but I'm so afraid of the language barrier. I'm sure I could learn a little, but definitely not be fluent.

Have you traveled anywhere that you didn't speak the language? If so, where and did you feel lost?

xDanniellex · June 2011

We went to Mexico. We stayed in a resort and there was a whole strip of resorts. The resort people spoke English fine and so did the shop keepers that had shops along the strip.

I think if we were planning on more site seeing to less popular places or striking out on our own I would have been worried.

cschissell · June 2011

I've been to both Portugal and France and didn't speak the language, but I do speak Spanish and quite a few people spoke either English or Spanish in those two countries (since Spain is their neighbor). Usually there wasn't much of a problem. If you go to touristy areas there are usually people who speak English (tour guides, resort workers, shop keepers, etc.). Problems are most likely to arrive if you go off the beaten path more.

*city bride* · June 2011

I went to Italy twice, and don't speak Italian. I never had a problem. You'd be amazed how much you can pick up on. Learn a few words if you can, and you'll feel better. All I learned were a few simple phrases before i left, and it went pretty far. The biggie is learning to ask if someone speak English! My mom travels all the time to Europe, and she doesn't know the languages... it's never been an issue for her, either. A lot of people speak English anyway. It's the international language for communication, so many people are taught it when they're kids in school.

starletcarly · June 2011

I would definitely go places where I don't know the language. I'd try to learn some key phrases before I left and bring a dictionary and just hope it works out! A lot of people know some English too, and usually you can piece together something!

I have found that people like you to try and speak their language...they seem to be more receptive to helping you if you're at least trying.

karebear304 · June 2011

I've only ever been to Jamaica and Mexico which are both full of English speakers - especially at the resorts/excursion places.

I think I'd be fine to travel elsewhere if I didn't know the language, but I'd definitely have to be with someone like my H or my dad. I wouldn't want to go too far off the beaten path, but a little would be fine.

MarylandWed · June 2011

a lot of people in other countries are required to learn several languages in school including english. and in tourist locations especially people speak english, and you will run into other tourists. you'll be fine.

VABeach08 · June 2011

Don't let not speaking a language stop you for traveling! I live in Italy and don't speak Italian (I'm trying to learn, but it's hard... at least for me). Obviously there are significant drawbacks to not being fluent-- I give you talking with the repair guy who was just here to fix our water heater or getting my dog registered w/ the commune (county basically) vet. But you muddle through and most people are eager to help and/or meet you halfway. AND that's living in Naples, a city not really know for charm and manners. It's much easier in more popular tourist destinations.

I've traveled a fair amount in Europe and most large cities have many English speakers (esp at hotels/restaurants) and even public signage in English (like subways and trains). Most tour books (Rick Steves, Frommers, etc) will have a 'usual phrase' section and itunes also has some free translator apps (I'm cheap, so I use the free ones), they're not perfect, but it's nice to at least make an effort to ask people if they speak English in the host-nation language, IMO.

Anyway, I'm hardly an expert on every country, but like I said, I've done a fair amount of travel in Europe and North Africa, so happy to try to speak to any specific questions, if I can.

D&J_052408 · June 2011

Thanks ladies. Definitely eased my fears a little. I've been out of the country a few times, but it's either to the Caribbean or to Mexico. I was able to learn enough Spanish to ask a few things but we were also staying at a resort where most of the staff knew English.

Now if I could get over the thought of that long plane ride.

kokomama · June 2011

starletcarly:
I would definitely go places where I don't know the language. I'd try to learn some key phrases before I left and bring a dictionary and just hope it works out! A lot of people know some English too, and usually you can piece together something!
I have found that people like you to try and speak their language...they seem to be more receptive to helping you if you're at least trying.

All of this. I love travelling internationally! I took a 3 week trip through some of Europe on my own, and didn't have too much trouble communicating. France gets a bad rap for being rude to tourists, but if you make an effort to speak their language, they usually are nice to you.

I've also been to South Korea for 2 weeks, and that was really eye opening because not only did I not know the language, but I didn't know the alphabet. It was still manageable to get around.

Whenever I'm in a new city in a foreign country, I make sure I study maps and know the general layout of a city, and learn a few general phrases.

nola Steph · June 2011

We went to Costa Rica. Neither of us know Spanish. We used our guide book to help us out when we needed it. Otherwise most places we went, people spoke enough English for us to understand each other.

Should we have learned more Spanish before going - oh yeah I think so. It really would have helped. Would I let the language barrier deter me from traveling again? Never.

Going to another country and not speaking their language?

Re: Going to another country and not speaking their language?

Choose Another Board

Search Boards