Nine Things to Do When No One Speaks English Youve always gotten by with your high school French or Spanish overseas, but what if youre in a place so remote no one speaks anything but the local language and you havent 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 business people. But go off the beaten track, and English speakers arent as easy to find. In the jungles of Ecuador youd be hard pressed to find anyone who spoke anything other than Spanish. What if youre 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. Dont panic. Logic and composure are your best friends. You might fret if its getting late and you cant find an ATM or your hotel. Dont 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 hotels 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 youll 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 theres no 4G or Wi-Fi available. Its 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 youre headed to a place where power is limited and English speakers are hard to find, its worth investing in a phrasebook. Even if you cant pronounce the words, you can show a local the page of the book with the phrase youre trying to convey. Many guidebooks also have a list of common words if you dont 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. Mcdonalds golden arches ChinaAs 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 Editor at Large Dori Saltzman offers an unexpected tip: Go to McDonalds 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 dont, some of the diners might. 8. Look for young people. IndependentTraveler Senior Editor Sarah Schlichter recommends reaching out to younger locals: Ive found that people in their 20s tend to be more likely to remember the English they studied in school than older folks who havent 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. What strategies have you tried in a situation when no one spoke your language? Post your suggestions in the comments below. --written by Tim Campbell
Posted on: Fri, 14 Mar 2014 05:00:47 +0000
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