I’ve traveled around the world and I’m here to tell you that English is the only language you NEED to get around a country. I recently met some people doing their travel planning and I was surprised to find out they had crossed off some places on their itinerary based on the fact that they didn’t know the language. They thought it would be too hard to communicate. I realize this belief is held by many people and it could be one of the reasons why many Americans simply travel to the Caribbean and not to Kenya.
I don’t speak another language. I’ve traveled to 50+ countries. I’ve been able to communicate in all of them. English is the language of the world and you can normally find SOMEONE in a village, town, or city that knows a little bit of English. Granted, not everyone will know it, so when you come across someone staring at you blankly, then try to move on and ask someone else.
Before you send your hate comments, please note, I’m not saying that you shouldn’t learn another language. The fact that I only know English is one of my very few regrets in life. I wish I would have studied a language when I was younger. However, I am determined to learn one before I leave this world. All I’m saying is that if you only speak English, don’t let that be an excuse to why you can’t go somewhere. I hate excuses; recognize them for what they are…evil.
When you do find that English speaker who knows a ‘little bit’ of English, here are some tips you may want to use to ease their understanding and make the conversation a success:
Table of Contents
Use simple vocabulary:
Think about the words you are using; could they be understood by a 5 yr. old? If not – search your brain for easier vocabulary! Also be aware of the slang you use. Try to increase your awareness to slang in your vocabulary, and remove it! Even simple things such as ‘like’ is a word that many Americans overuse and really can confuse English learners. “Do you know like where a bathroom is?”
Slow down and stress your words:
As English speakers, we naturally speak in weak and strong tones. The small words such as ‘to, in, and, of, as’ are normally said very fast and quietly. When I speak to someone who isn’t fluent in English I normally try to slow down these words and pronounce them with more stress so that they can understand my full sentence.
Unhinge your contractions:
Native English speakers also use a lot of contractions and they use them at a fast pace. To make yourself simpler to understand always un-contract your contractions! I find that it’s easier for new English speakers to understand when you say ‘I will’ instead of I’ll for example.
Throw your grammar away:
I find that the best way to communicate is to speak in incomplete sentences. English speakers throw in many extra words that make our conversation lively, but don’t actually aid in understanding. Think about this sentence:
“Where can I find a toilet? I don’t feel well.”
Change this to simply “Where toilet?” and then make a sad face and rub your stomach; they will understand!
Don’t be afraid to use your hands or artistic talent:
Communicating in Mongolia with picures
Consider the fact that you may need to get out of your comfort zone and do some charades. Many European cultures actually speak with their hands anyway, so they’ll appreciate your actions! In addition it’s always good to carry a pen and a little notebook. If all else fails – play Pictionary. I’ve been able to communicate by simply drawing pictures. I’m no artist, but stick figures are just fine!
I’m not advocating that you shouldn’t learn important words in the local language such as “Hello”, “Thank you”, “Where is”, “Turn right/left”, “straight ahead”; these are all important to getting around and getting some respect. However I’m simply saying, don’t let language limit your itinerary. Part of the adventure is learning how to communicate with other cultures and at the end you will probably you will feel like you’ve accomplished something and gained some friends!
What tips do you have to share for speaking English in foreign countries?
By Gillian @OneGiantStep February 23, 2012 - 9:05 am
I have also found it never to be a problem to be uni-lingual. I may not always be understood but the other person almost always wants to help me and we’ll find a way. In Northern Turkey we found no English spoken but I had a phrase book with me – we didn’t try to butcher the language but, instead, wrote down sentences we needed…such as ‘Do you have a room?’, ‘How much?’…and communicated back and forth on the paper. I think it’s a fun part of travel!
By Lane February 23, 2012 - 10:33 am
We managed to get across parts of Eastern Europe by using a form of charades and pointing.
By Lynn Nill February 23, 2012 - 11:43 am
I second the write it down suggestion; that worked for me in Italy…I had tried to learn a little Italian and our innkeeper didn’t know any English. My Italian was so bad, however, that she couldn’t understand me! If I wrote down (in Italian) what I was trying to say she could understand.
Also, a suggestion for communicating in English in Chinese and Japanese cultures – drop the articles from your sentences. They don’t have them and they cause confusion. It might sound to you like you are talking baby-talk to the person but they appreciate it!
One more suggestion, smile! And the next time a non-English speaker tries to ask you for help, remember what its like to be in a country where you can’t understand the language, and be kind…
Lynn
By Sherry February 26, 2012 - 9:29 pm
Thanks for the additional tips Lynn!
By Meaghan February 24, 2012 - 1:34 am
Great tips here! I’ve never found it to be a problem not speaking the language. As long as you have a smile on your face and a good attitude you will be able to get by. I do think it extremely important to learn at least a few basic phrases in the native language(hello, please, thank you, how much, etc) even if you butcher it the locals will most likely appreciate the effort! Excelling at charades and carrying a phrase book cant hurt either though. I think it’s important to mention too that shouting or getting upset is a huge no-no. If someone doesn’t understand you yelling at them isn’t going to help no matter how loud you get, if you do this your really just making yourself look stupid.
By Sherry February 26, 2012 - 9:27 pm
Oh yes – smiling is super important !
By Mark H February 24, 2012 - 3:58 pm
Very good points. Most people love the battle of trying to establish communication or solve pictionary-like clues.
May I add one no-no to your list – don’t speak louder. People in foreign countries who don’t speak English are not deaf – they simply don’t speak your mother tongue in their country.
By Amanda February 25, 2012 - 1:20 am
Great tips! And yes, sometimes a good pantomine can go a long way when nothing else works!
By Christy @ Technosyncratic February 26, 2012 - 2:20 am
We are so SO lucky that English is our first language. The other day we saw a guy from France trying to communicate with a guy in Thailand – both of them were using English, which is their second language.
By Sherry February 26, 2012 - 9:18 pm
Amen to that!
By Anthony @ Culture-ist Magazine March 4, 2012 - 9:18 pm
Although I usually try to brush up on at least basic words before traveling to a destination, I find time and time again (like you have) that’s there’s always someone who does speak at least basic English and is more than willing to help with any questions I’ve had. At times I almost wish no one spoke any English since it would increase the urgency for me to learn another language beyond (very) basic Spanish & Italian!
By Lauren March 5, 2012 - 11:03 am
Don’t know if anyone else has mentioned this, but bring a Point-It Dictionary! It has some really clever pictures. That way you don’t have to figure out how to draw “flash drive” or “clean water.”
By Tom @ ActiveBackpacker March 5, 2012 - 4:52 pm
Of course we’re lucky that English is our first language. It also makes it harder to learn another language – because you can get by almost everywhere with English!
But that’s just an excuse, and as you say above, “I hate excuses; recognize them for what they are…evil.”
I’m also determined to learn another language before I leave this world!
By Mark H March 11, 2012 - 6:02 pm
Bravo! With no common language, I find that people who want to communicate usually can and like you have had little hassle in most countries I have visited.
By Karin March 19, 2012 - 1:40 pm
The only time English has ever been completely useless to us was traveling in HaLong Bay, we met a man who was not only deaf, but from Israel, so when we introduced ourselves on paper he couldn’t read what we’d said!
By Félixxx November 6, 2012 - 8:05 am
The thing though with staying well tucked inside the little monolingual English bubble is that it limits you maybe not in what you can do, but what you can experience.
You’ve heard the old saying “The world is a book, and those who don’t travel read only one page”? Well, to that piece of wisdom I’d add “… and those who firmly stay entrenched in their monolingualism read it in a dark room, with sunglasses on.” Sure, they might flip a lot of pages, but can’t read shit except the occasional word here and there.
Multilingual traveling > having to speak as if everyone listening to me is a half-retarded deaf toddler
By Majida September 2, 2013 - 4:35 pm
There should not be any barrier, least of it language! And thank you Sherry for those tips, which I think apply for any language and any circumstance, when we are talking to people, not fluent in the language.
On the other hand, I was bugged at the Moroccan Airport personnel, who huffed at me and my husband for not understanding French!
By Sherry September 3, 2013 - 10:13 am
I found Morocco hard to travel through a bit as English was the 3rd language there…and of course I didn’t know French. However – I still got by!
By Nelson Mochilero October 5, 2014 - 4:29 pm
Handy and useful suggestions! Nice post Sherry.
By Expect Perfection November 28, 2014 - 12:55 am
Sherry I know that English is a globally used language for communication! But I don’t think language should be the communication barrier; instead emotion and expressions are very important to communicate with some words. And their are many countries like Italy, Japan and china where English is not used vastly but still they manage to top the world without English. I’m not against learning the English but I must say that you can only express yourself better in your native language 🙁