What are some tips and tricks when visiting countries where English is not the primary language?
I am a US resident who speaks English. I really want to visit other countries where English is not the primary language, but am hesitant because I am very weak in acquiring foreign language skills.
I really would love to visit South America, Europe, and Japan.
What are some tips and tricks people recommend to help with language in visiting these countries?
None English speakers are always surprised when English speakers,
know anything other than English,
What has always worked well for me is Hi & Thank you,
South Amerika /Spain – Hola and Gracios,
Abrigado for Brasil / Portugal
Japan – Konichiwa and Arigato
most Europeans know Hi or Hello,
Thank you would be (these are phonetic and not written correctly)
Poland – Chinkooway
Czech Rep – Yakooway
Greek – Afkalisto (Yassu / Yassuh for Hi)
French – Merci
German – Dankershen
Dutch – Dankerwell
Russian – Spasiba
Bulgaria – Multamest
If you want more give me a shout here
December 19th, 2009 at 4:58 pm
TRY TO SCREW THEM OUT OF FIFTY CENTS.THEN YOU WILL SEE HOW QUICK THEY SPEAK ENGLISH!!
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MY LIFE
December 19th, 2009 at 5:38 pm
Carry around a phrase book and memorize a few basic sentences. You don’t need to be good at learning languages to memorize how to say "Please take me to X."
For Japan, carry around a notepad and pencil (they read English better than they can comprehend it spoken).
If you stay in the big cities where all the tourists collect you’ll find English translations on many signs and many shops will have someone who is somewhat capable in English. Many Europeans know English and it’s mandatory to learn in Japanese but, due to how it’s taught, most are only good at reading and writing, as mentioned before.
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December 19th, 2009 at 6:04 pm
I would say try to speak to people that work on hotels or bars, they will most likely speak english, but when you go to a town or something i doubt somebody will be able to understand you…
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I live in Guatemala man
December 19th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
None English speakers are always surprised when English speakers,
know anything other than English,
What has always worked well for me is Hi & Thank you,
South Amerika /Spain – Hola and Gracios,
Abrigado for Brasil / Portugal
Japan – Konichiwa and Arigato
most Europeans know Hi or Hello,
Thank you would be (these are phonetic and not written correctly)
Poland – Chinkooway
Czech Rep – Yakooway
Greek – Afkalisto (Yassu / Yassuh for Hi)
French – Merci
German – Dankershen
Dutch – Dankerwell
Russian – Spasiba
Bulgaria – Multamest
If you want more give me a shout here
References :
MyCloxx
December 19th, 2009 at 7:02 pm
a pocket surviving a language book. and the bellmen of the hotel. (wherever You go see an have a friendly chat with the bellmen first ,get their phone number in case of emergency) try to hire one of them for tour guide or make them to recommend a taxi driver and hire the driver for flat rate the whole day.( a luxury You can’t afford inside the states)
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December 19th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
The best tip of all is to learn the local language.
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December 19th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
most county’s know english and be more precise when u say europe because England’s in europe and they speak English
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