How To Deal With Foreign Language In Foreign Lands

The Foreign Language Barrier

If I had to guess, I’d say worrying about potential foreign language issues is what keeps most people from exploring the world.

I’m happy to tell you that the lame excuse of, “Well, I only speak English . . .” is not a good reason to avoid international travel, especially if you have a working smartphone in your pocket. 

I see a day, and quite soon actually, where a pair of smart earbuds will translate any foreign language into your native tongue right in your ear, making for seamless communication with people around the world. When that happens I will delete this section of my blog and send a copy of it to the Smithsonian to add to their “How Technology Changed the World” exhibit. Haha.

The Good Ole Days

“Grandma, tell me again about the good old days and how you couldn’t understand people who spoke to you in a foreign language,” your adorable grandchild will demand as she sits on your lap and smiles up at you, truly confused by any language barrier issues.

I’m certain as technology progresses, the things we worry about today will seem silly tomorrow.

In today’s world, we’re still dealing with a language barrier when we travel, but I have good news to share . . . I’ve been all over the world and I’ve never:

• Starved to death
• Peed my pants
• Been kidnapped
• No one has forced to move drugs
• Been thrown in jail
• Or fill-in-the-blank with whatever your worst fear is about not speaking a foreign language in a foreign land 

It might be hard to believe, but when I plan an international trip, not speaking the language is quite literally the last thing I’m worried about.

Be Grateful Your “Foreign Language” is English

I’m assuming your first language is English, which makes you very lucky!

English is the third most common language spoken in the world. Nearly four hundred million people use English as their main form of communication.

English is also the most common SECOND language. Nearly a billion more people across the world can switch languages and speak to you in your native tongue.

If you can only be bothered to learn and speak one language, be glad it’s English! 

English is a Valuable Skill to Have Worldwide

You might be wondering why English is so prevalent.

In the European Union, school kids are required to study three languages . . . their native tongue, English (which is the official language of the European Union), and then a third language of their choice. (I’ve heard they usually pick French, German, Spanish or Latin.)

Most Europeans under 40 will have at least a basic understanding of English. If you strike up a conversation with a friendly European while traveling, start easy. Speak slowly and clearly and initially use basic words. These helpful trilingual Europeans might not use their English often. It could take a few sentences before the English they learned twenty years ago comes rushing back.

I’ve found that school-aged kids across Europe, China, Japan, Mexico, the Middle East and Southeast Asia are all currently learning English in school. Many of these kids are fluent.

The reason?

Parents want to give their kids opportunities and are insisting their kids learn English, especially in tourist-heavy places like Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. They believe speaking fluent English will give their kids a leg up on employment opportunities as adults.

Kids Are Adorable

While riding a bus through Athens, the most adorable ten-year-old girl scooted up next to me.

It was during October and I was sporting sparkly black Halloween nail tips (I’d observed during our travels that the nail style in Athens was a fully painted nail, not a colored tip). I noticed this cute little girl staring at my black nails, which must have seemed odd to her.

I love talking to locals, especially kids so I broke the ice.

“Hi. Do you speak English?” I asked and smiled widely.

She rolled her eyes and retorted, “Of course I do. Duh.”

I started to laugh and then we had a lively conversation, mostly about my Halloween nails.

Basically, if you’re in a bind and can’t find a grown-up that speaks English, track down a kid. In a non-creepy, non-threatening way of course. And tell them to tell their parents what the two of you are talking about.

Foreign Language Issues Should Be Entertaining

When I find I must speak with a stranger who may or may not speak English, I always approach them with a friendly expression and a wave. If they seem receptive I’ll slowly and politely ask, “Hi, do you speak English?” and then I smile widely.

I am the classic overly-friendly American and have no shame about it. 

Most of the time the person I’ve accosted will give me a hand signal indicating their English is so-so. If they don’t run away or flat-out refuse to speak to me, I will start with a very easy, simple English statement like “Bus to Louvre?” and then I’ll point in the general direction I think I need to go. I try to make my requests as simple as possible. 

This is where it gets fun. 

A Fluent English Speaker

Someone who speaks great English will want to practice their English on you. They’ll give you quite literally the best set of directions you’ve ever received in your whole entire life, tell you about some weird room in the Louvre you shouldn’t miss and then they’ll suggest at least fifteen places for lunch. Then they’ll probably tell you about their grandma’s famous winery or their most recent trip to the Grand Canyon. These people are awesome, but good luck getting away.

A So-So English Speaker, My Favorite Type

Someone who isn’t as fluent will do their best to help you. In the end, they’ll probably just escort you to your destination to make sure you get there safely. These are my favorite humans . . . I’ve found most people are kind and sincerely want to help. 

Questionable English

Someone whose English is questionable will point you in what they think is the right direction but then scurry off in the opposite direction. They won’t look back, in case they failed you. I love these people too.

PLEASE SAY THANK YOU!!!!

For those strangers who are willing to try and help me, I ALWAYS compliment them on their awesome English skills, regardless of whether or not their English is awesome. I truly mean the compliment too because I appreciate their efforts. It’s guaranteed they know more English words than words I know in their language, which automatically makes them much smarter than me.  

I also try to laugh a lot and very loudly so they know that I recognize I’m the idiot, and I’m certainly not taking this language issue very seriously. You’ll be surprised how far a big smile and a very friendly attitude will go.

Plus I like to imagine these people at home telling their families about the weird laughing American they met at the train station.

I also enjoy approaching police officers with my wrists together, criminal style. That always gets a laugh. It doesn’t matter where in the world you go, cops are macho, but I’ve never met a police officer anywhere who wasn’t willing to help.

Take a Working Cell Phone – Foreign Language Issues Solved

When I started traveling internationally, cell phones weren’t all that helpful outside of the United States. You’re fortunate to be traveling in a very modern era with the added advantage of having a powerful tool in your pocket at all times. I personally use T-Mobile and carry a Samsung phone and my cell phone has worked everywhere I’ve gone except Belize and Kosovo.

My phone did some odd things in China, but I’ve heard that’s pretty common. 

Even if your phone company charges $10 a day to use your phone, I’d pay it. Having a fully functioning phone when visiting another country makes everything easier, particularly communication and transportation. 

A Note on the iPhone

My friends have found that their iPhones are a little more glitchy than my Samsung when traveling outside the United States. No one seems to know why.

Tips For Making the Best Use of Your Phone

You can save pictures on your phone for things you know you’ll need often. In Japan, I kept a picture of a fork on my phone that I flash when I ordered food.

Google Translate is invaluable, but be aware it doesn’t always use the best grammar.

Google Lens is useful to translate menus or signs that seem like they might be important. Using Google Lens, you scan your camera over a page of words and it will translate it into English onto your screen. The grammar is often questionable, but at least you’ll get the gist of what you’re reading.

When all else fails there are international hand signals that you’ll pick up for universal human needs. My favorites are to point at what I want, give a thumbs up indicating all is well, and to make a heart with my hands to indicate my love and appreciation.

Although I only speak English I eventually learn hello, goodbye, thank you and a version of “mi espanol is muy feo” in each country I visit. That ALWAYS gets a laugh.

Learning a Foreign Language

So what about learning a foreign language?

The top three native languages in the world are Mandarin Chinese, Spanish and English. If you want to learn a common language that will help you the most in your travels, I’d suggest Spanish over Mandarin Chinese, unless you’re planning to spend a lot of time in Asia, or you want to be an American Diplomat.

Most travelers I’ve spoken to said if English communication isn’t working, they prefer to switch to Spanish. If you’re considering learning Spanish, keep in mind there is a difference between Spain-Spanish and Americas-Spanish.

I can only think of one time that speaking Mandarin Chinese would have been useful. It was at a laundry room in Shanghai, and that situation turned out just fine. I can think of a thousand occasions when Spanish would have been helpful, even here at home. Haha.

You’re Still Worried About Foreign Language Issues?

If you’re still worried about the language barrier, make your first international adventure a non-driving trip to one of the following countries where the language barrier is either non-existent or simple to deal with:

• Great Britain
• Ireland
• Scotland
• Australia
• Paris
• Amsterdam
• New Zealand
• Germany

You Are Lucky, English-Speaker

Count your lucky stars that you speak English. Regardless of where you are in the world, you’ll most likely find someone who shares your language . . . or at least a sign that will guide you on your way.

As you experience language hiccups in your travels, I hope you gain more empathy for foreigners with limited English skills who tour our amazing country. I bet you find yourself having more patience helping the lost or confused traveler.

My money is on the kindness you show to strangers will come back around to you.

Thanks So Much for Stopping By!

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If you’re wondering what prompted me to share my travel knowledge, check out the About Me section.

I’d love to hear about your travel experiences, good and bad. We’ll all be better travelers if we learn from one another. 

The Art of Travel (TAOT) ~ Written by Kylie, these awesome photos came from Unsplash.