Do You Speak a Foreign Language?
Dec 8th, 2008, 05:40 AM
#161
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I'm from the US but currently living in the Flemish region of Belgium. I speak enough Flemish to get by and am working on both it and my Spanish. I can read menus and ask for the check without problems in German, Italian, French, Spanish and Dutch. I find that to be the most helpful while traveling!
Dec 8th, 2008, 06:24 AM
#162
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Once in a Parisian outdoor cafe an American woman sitting near me loudly demanded: "Doesn't anyone here speak English?" If it had been something more urgent than a cafe order I would have spoken up. Probably others felt the same, because she was left to deal on her own.
Knowing how to behave would have taken her more than a few language lessons, but they would have helped.
Knowing how to behave would have taken her more than a few language lessons, but they would have helped.
Jan 18th, 2009, 03:10 AM
#171
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Hi PalenQ,
Responding to your original post:
I've never had problems with communication while traveling to Europe. Through the years, it seems that the language barrier has become less of a problem for English-only speakers on their travels to Europe. I've noticed this especially in major cities in France. In 2000, I remember Paris was a lot less receptive to Americans. But this could be subjective, as at that time I did not speak as much French as I do now.
I myself have had some formal (college/grad school) training in Spanish, French, and German. I was able to pick up Czech on my own. And I speak fluent Chinese (mandarin), as it's my native language.
I find learning new languages quite easy, but I realize this may not be the case for everyone. One of the reasons I think why I'm able to do this is because English was my second language, and so I'm accustomed to (and understand) some of the frustrations and confusions of a non-native speaker. I definitely think that if one wanted to be able to speak/listen a foreign language quickly, daily immersion (e.g., living in the country where the language is spoken) is a lot more effective than classroom training.
Responding to your original post:
I've never had problems with communication while traveling to Europe. Through the years, it seems that the language barrier has become less of a problem for English-only speakers on their travels to Europe. I've noticed this especially in major cities in France. In 2000, I remember Paris was a lot less receptive to Americans. But this could be subjective, as at that time I did not speak as much French as I do now.
I myself have had some formal (college/grad school) training in Spanish, French, and German. I was able to pick up Czech on my own. And I speak fluent Chinese (mandarin), as it's my native language.
I find learning new languages quite easy, but I realize this may not be the case for everyone. One of the reasons I think why I'm able to do this is because English was my second language, and so I'm accustomed to (and understand) some of the frustrations and confusions of a non-native speaker. I definitely think that if one wanted to be able to speak/listen a foreign language quickly, daily immersion (e.g., living in the country where the language is spoken) is a lot more effective than classroom training.
Jan 24th, 2009, 10:50 AM
#175
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Rufus, we went to Japan last year (our first trip to Asia) and I too tried to study Japanese. For me it was a lost cause! And in Japan I must admit that I was a little suprised by the lack of English. However, the people were friendly and helpful so it wasn't a problem. Well, except when we almost missed our train from Tokyo to Kyoto because we thought the date on our ticket was the time our train left! Japan is amazing; I hope you have a wonderful time!
Tracy
Tracy
Jan 24th, 2009, 12:56 PM
#176
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No. I am a fast learner, but cannot seem to learn foreign languages well. I always know the "basic" words, however.
It was not a problem for me when I visited France, Italy, and Greece. As long as my daughter and I "tried" to speak their language, people were very helpful. I am now in the process of studying German for my July trip to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
It was not a problem for me when I visited France, Italy, and Greece. As long as my daughter and I "tried" to speak their language, people were very helpful. I am now in the process of studying German for my July trip to Germany, Switzerland, and Austria.
Jan 24th, 2009, 09:56 PM
#177
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Hi I cant speak any foreign languages. I lived and worked in France, Italy and Israel. I used to take my phrase book everywhere with me. The shopkeepers would correct my pronuciation until I could say it correctly. You cannot be embarrassed even if they are laughing at you. We Aussies are quite lazy, we expect people to speak English. And yes, loud Aussie overseas are embarassing. Especially in Asia. How can speaking louder in english make someone who cannot understand english, understand.
Jan 24th, 2009, 11:08 PM
#178
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Location:
Central Europe, Germany
Languages:
German (obviously)
English (quite okay, I hope)
Spanish/ Castilian (it works pretty good)
French (perfect pronunciation, lousy vocabulary, insulting grammar)
Dutch (enough to get upgraded from ugly German to stupid German, dank u wel)
Catalan (learning, phrase book parrot)
Slavic languages (pathetic, cannot learn)
Does it help to "know" the local language?
Well, yes, of course.
But I find some reports a bit exaggerated. Lingua franca for travelers as well as for any intra-EU business is English - even (or especially) for those who grew up outside the UK and Ireland.
As much I don't expect anyone to learn German for a trip to Germany, I don't have the time to learn Swedish or Portuguese just for a one week vacation. On the other hand: If I fell in love with France or Italy, and kept returning year after year, I would assume that at some point I would start to learn the local language.
English (as a 2nd language) is also considered an important benchmark for education here.
I would shake my head at a 20yo or 40yo (non-British/Irish) European who was not able to communicate at a basic level in English.
Those countries who make the biggest fuss about their language are usually at the lower end of having some knowledge of a 2nd language themselves.
Otherwise, if one country considers tourism a major factor of its economy, it is absolutely normal to make life for the tourist easy, i.e. multi-lingual signs, hotel & restaurant staff learning the tourist's language, and so on.
It's in the same department as a store supplying restrooms or a water fountain for customers - not a requirement, but a service to make customers feel more comfortable.
Finally, with regard to suey1's fellow Australians...
During Oktoberfest, my current location, which is Munich, must become Australia's northernmost city, but those guys are the best: Only two to three words of German (beer and German "bier" are pronouced the same, and "party" is also a German word), but the ability to drink twice as much as their North American or British/Irish cousins without throwing up on the sidewalks. Which is much more appreciated by the locals than a fluent command of German
Central Europe, Germany
Languages:
German (obviously)
English (quite okay, I hope)
Spanish/ Castilian (it works pretty good)
French (perfect pronunciation, lousy vocabulary, insulting grammar)
Dutch (enough to get upgraded from ugly German to stupid German, dank u wel)
Catalan (learning, phrase book parrot)
Slavic languages (pathetic, cannot learn)
Does it help to "know" the local language?
Well, yes, of course.
But I find some reports a bit exaggerated. Lingua franca for travelers as well as for any intra-EU business is English - even (or especially) for those who grew up outside the UK and Ireland.
As much I don't expect anyone to learn German for a trip to Germany, I don't have the time to learn Swedish or Portuguese just for a one week vacation. On the other hand: If I fell in love with France or Italy, and kept returning year after year, I would assume that at some point I would start to learn the local language.
English (as a 2nd language) is also considered an important benchmark for education here.
I would shake my head at a 20yo or 40yo (non-British/Irish) European who was not able to communicate at a basic level in English.
Those countries who make the biggest fuss about their language are usually at the lower end of having some knowledge of a 2nd language themselves.
Otherwise, if one country considers tourism a major factor of its economy, it is absolutely normal to make life for the tourist easy, i.e. multi-lingual signs, hotel & restaurant staff learning the tourist's language, and so on.
It's in the same department as a store supplying restrooms or a water fountain for customers - not a requirement, but a service to make customers feel more comfortable.
Finally, with regard to suey1's fellow Australians...
During Oktoberfest, my current location, which is Munich, must become Australia's northernmost city, but those guys are the best: Only two to three words of German (beer and German "bier" are pronouced the same, and "party" is also a German word), but the ability to drink twice as much as their North American or British/Irish cousins without throwing up on the sidewalks. Which is much more appreciated by the locals than a fluent command of German
