Tips for Overcoming the Language Barrier

We all know that traveling can be stressful, and one of the biggest causes of this can be the language barrier when visiting non-English speaking countries. It’s the American way to just assume that all countries speak English, which is honestly generally true, but it can be extremely helpful to learn some common phrases in the native language of the country your visiting beforehand. This way, you’ll be covered if you come across locals that don’t know English, and you’ll come across as less rude than just barking demands in English like stereo-typical rude Americans.

        I would also recommend doing some research on street signs and highway signs of whatever country you’re visiting, especially if you’ll be renting a car there. It will make getting around so much easier if you can actually follow the signs, and not to mention less uncomfortable than constantly looking lost or asking for directions. When I visited Iceland, we rented a car and made sure to print out a chart that showed you a picture of the road signs and what they meant next to it. This kept us off some pretty dangerous roads, and allowed us to be smarter travelers. It was something that I didn’t really think about – I had thought that road signs were pretty universal, but this ended up being not true at all.  Another related tip that applies to international travel as a whole would be to download your maps on your phone before you leave using the Google Maps app. This way you don’t have to rely on trying to find a Wifi signal in the middle of nowhere, or having to worry about getting lost wandering around a city.

        The biggest tip I would have to give to overcome the language barrier would be to not be afraid, or at least pretend to not be afraid. Use common sense and street smarts to be confident, and you’ll blend right in. This way, you’ll be less of a target for pickpocketing or any sort of scamming that can go along with being an oblivious tourist. Foreign countries generally have a pretty negative stereotype against Americans, but instead of focusing on that, try to prove it wrong, and give them a positive impression.  The French people have a stereotype of being rude, and I pretty much found that to be true. The important thing to note however, is that it’s just their culture’s personality. They’re not being rude, they’re just being French. A lot of other countries don’t have the “be super nice and friendly to everyone you ever meet” shtick that Americans (in my opinion) seem to have, so don’t expect it. I work in retail, and my manager always says that it’s rude to not properly greet the customer as soon as they walk in the door, whereas in other countries this custom would be thought of as weird and insincere.

        The language barrier can be a source of anxiety, but hopefully these tips will allow you to push through and have an amazing trip. Just be self-assured, smart, and don’t be afraid to talk to locals! 🙂