Nine Things to Do When No One Speaks English
Here is a
helpful list, written by Tim Campbell, about how to navigate
when no one seems to speak English. I
added a few of my tips at the end.
You've always
gotten by with your high school French or Spanish overseas, but what if you're
in a place so remote no one speaks anything but the local language and you
haven't taken the time to learn more than "hello" and "thank
you"?
English is a
common second language in many countries, particularly those that see lots of
tourists or international businesspeople. But go off the beaten track, and
English speakers aren't as easy to find. In the jungles of Ecuador you'd be
hard pressed to find anyone who spoke anything other than Spanish. What if
you're in rural China
or Russia,
or even a major city in Asia like Tokyo
that has very few signs in English?
Below are nine
tips that can help.
1. Don't panic.
Logic and
composure are your best friends. You might fret if it's getting late and you
can't find an ATM or your hotel. Don't worry; eventually someone will help.
Stay positive.
2. Write it
down.
Before you
leave for the day, ask the front desk or concierge to write down the name of
your hotel in the local language, or get a business card with the hotel's
details on it. That way if you get lost, anyone can point you in the right
direction, and a taxi (your safest bet at night) will return you to the front
door in a heartbeat.
3. Get an app.
If you'll be
using your smartphone abroad, download a translation app. Our favorite is
Google Translate, which covers approximately 70 languages. You can have a local
speak into the phone or even take a picture of written text, and the app will
translate it into English for you. The app will work offline if there's no 4G
or Wi-Fi available. It's free for iPhone and Android.
4. Buy a
phrasebook.
Remember that
your smartphone may not work everywhere in the world -- and if your battery
dies, you may need a backup plan. If you're headed to a place where power is
limited and English speakers are hard to find, it's worth investing in a
phrasebook. Even if you can't pronounce the words, you can show a local the
page of the book with the phrase you're trying to convey. Many guidebooks also
have a list of common words if you don't want to carry a separate phrasebook.
5. Go to a
hotel.
Wherever you
are, look for the nearest lodging, preferably a luxury or business hotel (which
will be most accustomed to international guests). Hotels almost always have a
person on staff that can speak English or will find someone for you who can. In
the worst case, you can rest in the lobby and gather your thoughts.
6. Find a
tourist office.
As with hotels,
tourist offices are used to interacting with international visitors and will
likely have multilingual people on staff.
7. Look for
familiar franchises.
IndependentTraveler.com
Editor at Large Dori Saltzman offers an unexpected tip: "Go to McDonald's
or another chain that you recognize from home. Because these places attract
Americans, the staff often will know a little English -- and even if they
don't, some of the diners might."
8. Look for
young people.
IndependentTraveler.com
Senior Editor Sarah Schlichter recommends reaching out to younger locals:
"I've found that people in their 20s tend to be more likely to remember
the English they studied in school than older folks who haven't practiced their
second language in a few decades."
9. Draw a
picture or sign it out.
Hand gestures,
sketches or even just pointing to a map can all get your point across if words
fail. Be careful, though; seemingly innocent hand gestures in your own culture
could prove offensive elsewhere in the world. We recommend reading up on taboos
and hand gestures before your trip at CultureCrossing.net.
The main thing
to remember is that people worldwide are generally helpful. Remember your
charades and try to act out what you need. If nothing else, it will give the
locals a good laugh, and when they are laughing they will be more inclined to
help.
Here are my additions for those overseas on business:
Avoid Using American Slang, American
Idioms, Acronyms, American Sports Trivia, and American Humor
Practice universal English language. Avoid the use of any terms or idioms, jargon,
buzzwords, military or sports analogies, colloquialisms, acronyms, or euphemisms
that might be confusing to someone who is not from your region of the
world. Also, shy away from sarcasm or
innuendo. You will probably be the only
one who understands your meaning. Using
these confusing terms only create barriers to effective communication
Sports metaphors and analogies are very
commonly used in the US. You will
completely lose your audience if you pepper your language with these idioms in
other countries.
Think locally. Try to find a few topics that
are important in the local popular culture. Remember, most people in the world
have little or no interest in the World Series or the Super Bowl. (Think about
what it means for us to call it the World Series-- when only we are
involved) remember, what we call
“soccer” is football everywhere else. And it's the most popular sport on the
planet. Next year, watch the World Cup!
Humor is the last aspect of culture to
translate across cultures. In fact,
humor is so culture specific that some humor is only understood by certain individuals
in subcultures, even inside the US. For
example, unless you are a biker, you probably would not understand biker humor. Often when Americans attempt to use humor,
especially when they tell jokes from the podium, foreigners in the audience will
laugh along yet have no clue of the meeting of the message. Typically, they are instructed to laugh when
everyone else laughs-- in order to save face.
Avoid using humor that is uniquely
American. Steer clear from making fun of
other groups-especially as it relates to characteristics they have no control
over such as ethnicity, race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, etc. Take the lead from your host when engaging in
humor.
Finally, learn the metric system.
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