Tips To Overcoming Language Barriers When Traveling
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Let's face it, traveling comes with plenty of opportunities to embark on adventure, see new places, meet new people and of course try a plethora of new experiences. Tips to overcoming language barriers when traveling
Of course, there are apps, like Google translate, to help; but you may not always have your phone with you or have an internet connection. Lindsay Dow, a Language Consultant at Lindsay Does Languages, shares tips on how to be understood no matter where you go.
You may not have all the right words, but that doesn't matter if you've got the right attitude and aren't showing visible frustration every time that you're misunderstood. Adding a smile and friendliness to any request will typically get people on your side, which means they're willing to hear you out in any language.
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Smiling is just one way to communicate beyond words. You can also use your body language and gestures to help get your point across. And to be prepared for the moments that you're really stuck, be sure to keep a small notebook and pen on hand. Being able to draw out what you're trying to describe can be helpful when the impromptu Charades fails!
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There's no need for a language barrier to cause a frantic rush to cram in the language a week before your trip. You don't need to remember complex sentence structures and an expansive vocab to overcome language barriers when travelling. But if you can master the bare minimum, that will help hugely. That includes: 'hello', 'thank you', 'yes', 'no', 'have a good day'. 'On a recent trip to Egypt, the constant presence of eager hustlers could have easily been a source of annoyance. But being able to say 'no thank you, have a good day' rather than just a flat 'no' made for much more pleasant interactions,' says Dow.
Languages don't just live within the confines of country borders. You may think your trip to Portugal will be difficult since you don't know Portuguese, but if you know a little of another language (say Spanish), then you can use your English and Spanish together. Often people in Europe (and other continents) speak multiple languages, so you might be using your second language knowledge in unexpected places.
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Chances are you're no longer carrying a paperback phrasebook. That doesn't matter too much because your phone can do plenty of heavy lifting to overcome language barriers. You can of course arrange a local SIM for internet data access in most places, but it's still useful to be offline ready. Be sure to have the languages you need downloaded for offline use on Google Translate. The same goes for having maps downloaded for offline use so you can easily point to where you're going when getting help with public transport. Another tip is to save photos or graphics of key things you might want to ask about: think a photo of any medication you need, must-see highlights to visit, and meals you want to try.
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