How to Survive Abroad When You Don’t Speak the Language
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While knowing the language of the country you’re visiting can greatly enrich your travel experiences, it’s impossible to learn how to speak the language of every single place you go—especially if you’re an avid traveller. Not knowing a language shouldn’t stop you from travelling or visiting new places, and you shouldn’t let your fear of getting lost in translation hold you back from exploring the world. Read on for a few tips on how to get by abroad when you simply don’t know the local language and prepare to take on the globe!
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Learn a Few Basics
Just because you aren’t able to gain significant proficiency in a new language before heading overseas, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t learn anything at all! It’s relatively easy to pick up the basics of any language. Knowing how to say small things like “please,” “hello,” and “where’s the bathroom” can impact your journey in big ways. All it takes is a few minutes a day to pick up key words and phrases that will come in handy when you’re on the road.
Focus on the Body Language
You probably don’t realize how much you communicate using just body language, and this can be a big asset when you’re travelling and don’t speak the local tongue. Most gestures are universally understood, and pointing, nodding, or smiling can be great ways to communicate. But beware of exceptions. In the Balkans, nodding your head actually means “no” while shaking it means “yes,” and in some countries, people don’t smile at those they don’t know.
Find a Local Guide
If you’re feeling really intimidated by the idea of not being able to speak to locals, hiring a tour guide is an excellent way to get a better grasp of both the culture and language of the place you’re visiting. Booking a tour guide during your first few days abroad can be useful if you need help easing into the pace of the country, and a good guide will share with you many facets including where to eat, important phrases to know, and cultural norms to follow. If you’re not sure where to find a guide, look online (Facebook is a good place to start), or pop into the local tourist office when you arrive.
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Smartphones Are Your Friends
You can find out almost anything with the tap of a few buttons, so make your smartphone your best bud when travelling abroad. Whether you need to Google images of chickens when trying to ask what sort of meat is in your meal, or show a local a map so they can point you in the right direction, portable technology can greatly facilitate your travel experience. You can also download language apps to your phone so you can practice the local tongue while out and about experiencing the country first-hand.
Make a Plan
If you’ve got zero knowledge of the local language, you might have to do a little more planning than usual in order to make up for it. Planning in advance can also ease travel stress and make your trip more enjoyable.
Having a map of the place you’re visiting, printing out the address of where you’re staying, and having basic itineraries set in advance are all simple ways to make your trip easier. Also, having addresses of the main landmarks, or at least their names in the local language, on hand can make it a lot simpler to ask for directions when your language skills are minimal.
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Remember You’re Not the First
The internet has made some of the most far-flung and distant locations accessible. And gone are the days where travelling was a huge, risky adventure.
While you can still have rip-roaring adventures abroad, you should also take full advantage of online resources when it comes to planning your trip. Look at blogs and travel websites to learn as much about the country as possible and to see how others have survived without speaking the local language. Remember, if someone else has gone before you and managed to survive the language differences just fine, you can do it too!
Let Yourself Be Inspired
Something I’ve learned from frequent travel is that visiting a new country is always an inspiration to learn the local language. Once you’ve started putting into practice the key words and phrases you’ve learned, and when you see the reactions of locals who appreciate that you’re making the effort to speak to them in their native tongue, I guarantee you’ll come away wanting to improve your skills even more! You’ll feel inspired to explore the country further and to know more of the local language the next time you go.
What are some of the ways you get by when you’re travelling somewhere you don’t know the language? Share your tips and tricks in the comments section!
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