Do You Have to Speak the Language of the Country You Visit?
A major question we get about international travel is if you have to speak the language of the country you are visiting? Well, at least know a few word to get more out of your trip.
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Learning some basics is just good manners.
Agreed!
I agree. I believe that I get treated better, even if it’s only a smile, when I try of few words in the local language. I like to learn “hello”, “thank you”, “please”, “Do you speak English?”.
i was scared to speak French when I went to Paris two years ago. But when I went out to eat and had to flag down the owner for the bill, I asked in French - he lit up like a Christmas tree and said "you CAN speak French!!". He sounded so genuinely happy and it made me feel good to be able to communicate (and not mess up too badly).
Il s'éclaira comme un arbre de noël 😄
When we were in Florence in 2011 the restaurant owner where we dined was taking English lessons. He decided to join us at our table so he could practice! Needless to say the food and wine both arrived in copious quantities over the next hour, and we made a memory we will never cherish forever.
I found Italians to be very friendly to visitors and open up even more so if you can speak a few words in Italian.
That english menu may have different prices😂😂😂😂😂
This is a known ripoff especially in Spain during lunch due to menu del dia
One thing I learned is just try. Even if you mess up they don't care because you tried. If you mess up trying to speak their language just laugh. That's what I've done whether it's Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal or Malta
I always add “Exit” to the list. Have had the best experiences by speaking Italian
Especially in writing. Learned that the hard way in a train station in Japan 😂 Train (station) and bus are also good ones to add.
Totally agree! And even when you visit a place like London and you offer to take a pic for a group and they say obrigado to you and you say de nada back. It makes them smile even more! Lol I say add "you're welcome" to Mark's basic 5.
I messed up como estas and muy bien in Mexico. Still we laughed and had fun with it.
Good observations - my experience in Japan is that they are set up to assist people who don't speak Japanese in restaurants, hotels, stores, and at ticket offices. There is a lot of English signage too just about everywhere as well as audio messages on the trains announcing upcoming stops. Google Translate is becoming more and more useful as well.
It also helps if you know "Where is" and "Where are" in the local language as well as "Excuse me" and "I'm sorry." I've developed a list of about 15 French words and phrases that will get me by and show respect to the locals. Ditto for Italian and other languages that are spoken in countries I plan to visit. It helps a lot and they're not very difficult to memorize. For more challenging conversations, rely on Google Translate.
I also like basic directions like “this” and “here”. Add in some gestures and you can get basic commerce done: “two this please.” “go here please.”
I learned a few phrases before going to Germany in 2019 just to be prepared. It actually came in handy especially in asking for directions or in restaurants etc. After that I started using Duolingo to boost my knowledge and each time I go back I feel more confident speaking German. It also helps being around the language every day and you can tell the locals really appreciate it. Servus!
I went to Japan, not knowing the language. I just watched a lot of KZhead videos, for many months, before I traveled there. I took lots of notes. It helped!
We’re going to Italy in October, so I’ve been learning basic Italian, along with one of our grandsons, who is 6! I’m a retired postpartum nurse and actually put together a binder to speak with our Spanish patients and learned what I had to say to do my job and then some. I also said (in Spanish) “thank you for your patience with my Spanish” and “please don’t laugh!” Haha! They always were so happy and said “Bien! Bien! You have a great accent!” 🙌🏻
I was in a museum in Italy and asked a security guard in the corner where the bathroom was (I memorized that phrase) she was kinda slouched in a chair and just looked up at me and said just speak English 😂
Nice job Mark:). I agree , If someone sees you trying to speak their language they are more willing to help you. ;).
exactly. it goes a long way to help make friends around the world
So true. I was just in Jordan and they were so happy when I managed to say a few sentences and greetings in Arabic 😊
It’s always helpful to learn a few basics, but usually, you can get by with speaking English if you’re traveling to major cities where the locals often see tourists. However, if you’re traveling to smaller, lesser known cities, you should learn as many words as possible.
Some translation apps have a feature where you can take a photo of some text in the country's language and the app will automatically translate it for you.
I would add the pronunciation of town names and places you want to visit. Even when the local people do speak English they might not recognize your 'wrong' pronunciation. I've had tourists ask me where X was and I had absolutely no clue what they meant untill they spelled it or showed it on a map. It's also very useful when travelling by public transport because you know when to get off.
I agree I had the same experience ! Try ! And be polite and smile ! They will be the same and forgive when you mangle somethings !! Glenda
When i was in Greece, Athens, i found myself on the wrong train in a very wild area 😂. One of my favorite stories 💙 ευχαριστώ Αττική
I think learning languages is fun. I absolutely find it 'greases the wheels' when you can say a few words even if it's just Hello/Excuse me/Please/Thank you/etc. Here in Canada it's mandatory to have French up until Grade 9. So traveling to Paris was not bad. Am I fluent? No. But spoke enough to get us practically taken by the hand to our hotel. I have learned Czech, Portuguese, Spanish and I'm currently learning Greek. This is NOT an ad and I'm NOT paid but I swear by Pimsleur.
Slovakia .... I was so excited to go, my mother's parents were both from Slovakia, so I went by myself on the train, while my husband slept off jet lag, from Austria to Bratislava AND oh my goodness, I have never been so lost. No one spoke a word of English and it's not like you pick up a little Slovak in high school. I had no phone reception, I for the life of me could not get a taxi, nor figure out the taxis or transportation of any kind back to the train nor directions from the center of town, that I had managed to wander to, back to the train. There was a moment when I actually thought ... ok, I will now live in Bratislava. Thankfully some taxi driver did take pity on me and get me back to the station after he looked at my ticket, but I honestly think he had to leave someone behind as some lady ran after us screaming and hitting the cab with her bag. I later learned that you have to call for taxi, not just hail them like in Chicago where I live !!!!!! I must have been in bad shape because hero taxi driver would not take any payment.
I agree know basic phrases and to read road signs BTW with English do be careful with phrasing and learn local terms Funny moment in Sydney we were looking for lunch and spotted a sign that said "sports bar" In the us a sports bar is a family friendly Cafe that serves drinks and airs sports In Australia it is a smoke filled legal gambling house...yep a sports book that also sells food....yeah lesson learned so even English speaking doesn't make it all smooth so I agree enjoy the moment
A coffee shop means different things in the Netherlands than in other countries too :-)
@@wanneske1969 lol yep true that and that's the most common example...lol As does window shopping :P
I agree.
Usually the basics are absolutely fine
You're visiting places for a holiday, to relax etc not to sit a practical exam. If I can say hello/hi and thank you in the language of the country I'm visiting that's good enough for me.
I've traveled to more places than I can remember and the only time not speaking the local language was a minor issue was when I was in the Ukraine and I had to go to the bathroom. However the "I have to go to the bathroom" dance is international. Also, in most countries when using public transportation you will see signs in at least the local language & English. Traveling throughout Western Europe though you will see kiosk that will have have a flag for the different countries so for example when I was living in Germany I would tap on the British union jack to get English but they would also have flags for France, Spain and so on. Also, speaking of key phrases I would add learn what the word or phrase is for whatever transportation system you are using. For example, the train station or port of you are on a cruise.
I always like to know at least a few words such as the ones you mentioned. I'm attempting to learn a few in Dutch but my problem is I cannot pronounce them. It's so close to German but yet so far away... and I don't really speak German but I can say a few words.
Every time I book my flight for my next vacation, I use Duo Lingo to learn the language of where I will be going. Sure I won't be fluent enough to make long conversations, but at least I will understand some of what it is being said and most important I'll be able to read important information (for example signs that have a warning sign with the local language).
In 1978 I hitch hiked through Holland knowing two things in Dutch, Please and Thank you. It helped but in Apeldorn I stopped in a hostle for the night. I was the only native English speaker, however they were all speaking English before I entered. 😮
I don't feel that comfortable traveling if I don't know anything. Speaking the language gives you a huge advantage. I feel more comfortable wandering around and going more places. The look of disappoint on peoples faces if I don't speak it, is bad enough. Already speak French, Italian, Polish, and a few others. Enjoyed my experience the most in countries where I spoke the language and where I understood the history and culture already.
Well, I live in Europe and have worked as tour leader, for airlines, etc. My mother language is Spanish, which means I can understand French and Italian quite well. I speak Germán, that is why I dived into it, which I recomienda. Out of Europe, I only travel to countries whose native language is either Spanish or English. That means no Africa and no Asia. I am not a safari tour customer: unless I can delve into the country and the people at the same table... I am not going. As easy as that. Next step (hopefully), Tennessee!
True, when you think about how many things you actually say to strangers in your own country when out and about just a few phrases and words will get you pretty far! When in dire straights there is always google translate!
My first language was German although I have lived all my life in North American. Recently I finally got to visit Germany for the first time and thought I could blend right in. The moment I said a few words in German to anyone they immediately switched to English. I guess the accent was a give away. Germany is an easy place to get around if you only know English.
So many Americans are afraid to travel because they think they need to speak the local language. As a European, I can tell you, we travel all the time and we don't speak the local languages. Just think about it, we can drive for 2 or 3 hours and be in another country, that's how small European countries are. Do you think we speak all the languages? 😀 Usually,.you can get by just speaking English. Now, there are some parts of Europe where locals are less likely to speak English, like rural Italy. That males ot a little more difficult if you are traveling independently, but still doable!
I live in Antwerp. When I drive north for half an hour, I'm in the Netherlands. If I drive south for an hour, everybody speaks French. And if I drive 2 hours to the East, I'm in Germany.
Of course, the prices on the English menu may be a bit higher than those on the local menu.
Speaking of speaking the local language, the Hyatt hotel in bogota Colombia I was told on trip advisor by people who were there most of the staff speak ingles
Everyone speaks English, who doesn't speak English?? It's the easiest language in the world and.It's the language of dumb people. The point is to at least try to say THANK YOU or PLEASE, it always goes well and you might even gain a friend just for trying!!!
Honestly, this can go the opposite way though. I've seen plenty of tourists who roll up in a store in a normally non-English speaking country and just spoke in straight, full speed English. The waitress serving them was mortified, and the managers were trying to get by with some basic English. But the tourists couldn't believe that they couldn't speak back to them and started lambasting their customer service.
We had English or German in Basic school, than later in High school. It Is considered part of education, just as literature, math, economy etc. My point is, we dont learn languege for tourists. Some poeple will never use foreing language later in their everyday live.
Hello, good bye, please, thank you, excuse me, one, two, three. Those are the basics I try to learn at minimum.
I just got back from Europe and part of Asia 2 Weeks ago. A trip of 2 months and I’m glad to notice that English ISNT anymore the language that locals and tourists should speak to communicate. *There are more and more people in countries such as Italy, Germany, Czechia, Greece, Poland and Switzerland etc who speak SPANISH* That made me feel comfortable and proud. If you learn the basics of every country you visit is fine and a show of respect to the locals but isn’t necessary to speak that language.
It would be kind of weird to visit Germany and speak Spanish with the locals.
Lol, yes. Bathroom is a lifesaver of a word.😂 i feel that we are privileged to live in the times we live in because we have smartphones. If i dont know what somthing is on the menu, i can just google it. If i dont understand what somone is saying, i can google it.
I think you don’t have to speak the local language, but you do have to speak English or else you’ll run into a lot of problems. If I walk around Spain speaking only Korean, it probably won’t go down very well.
I'm fluent Spanish and it always makes me smile when I go to México is listening to the locals insulting the gringos in Castellano 😂
I went to france and tried to show willing and tried my french and got a sassy lady say to me i can speak english ya know 😂
Well ... that's France for you!
Poland is a country with a daunting language, but so many English speakers, even among the middle-aged. Many share stories of living in North America, Australia or the UK.
The Polish loved it when I knew their word for thank you
@@jinjysbro Dziękuję
❤❤❤❤
There's no excuse not to learn a few basic words these days with a plane ride and a translation app.
If you've gone to another country and if you haven't learned at least "Thank you" in the language they speak within a day or two, you're doing something wrong.
The words I always learn: 1) Hi and/or Hello 2) Thanks 3) Goodbye
When I visit Germany I always speak German to the locals. I hate it when they start a conversation in English because it means they hear I'm a foreigner.
You don't, especially with apps like Google Translate or Duolingo. I don't speak French at all but armed with a few phrases in Google Translate and a little practice to try and pronounce the words right, it was not an issue at all in Paris, and the French are notorious for disdain of those who don't speak their language. Learn some basic words like Mark said, and the locals will appreciate it.
If you don't speak the local language, it's always a good idea to learn to say, "Pardon me. I don't speak _______. Do you speak English?" Some people find it offensive to be addressed in English right off the bat.
Las personas medianamente cultas del mundo, conocen aparte de la propia, otras lenguas. Un español entiende un poco de portugues, italiano. Y francés e inglés otro poco por la enseñanza obligatoria o de ampliación de conocimientos. Eso de solo hablar inglés sin tener interés por ningún otro idioma es típico de mentes estrechas y sin cultura.
In Mexico right now most tourists dont bother to speak spanish....most mexicans we think is extremely disrespectful
A few phrases will get you a long way. Because you never know what you get...
Yes, otherwise stay home.
I used to have this attitude, used to make a real effort with it. Last few trips however ppl have just instantly switched to English as soon as they realise I’m a foreigner. Some poorly paid service worker in a tourist area really hasn’t got the time or willpower to indulge foreigners mangling their language.
Any foreigners coming to the US don't have to learn English or assimilate. The government will cater to your every need