I've always been quite good at languages, I studied French, German and Latin and love learning different languages. When we go abroad I hate not knowing the language and always try to learn a few bits and pieces before I go just so that I can make polite small talk, order food and ask for directions if I need to. Breaking down the language barrier when travelling abroad can be difficult though, and the British are notoriously bad at learning new languages!
Holiday Autos has recently done some research into how much British people struggle with speaking different languages when they are abroad and I found it really interesting.
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What second languages can British people speak?
Did you know that British people are most familiar with French, and on average we know about 15 French words. Despite this, millions of us holiday a lot in Spain and we only know a paltry 8 Spanish words!
Shocking facts about foreign languages and British people...
- 27% of Brits don't make any effort to learn a language before their holidays because they believe that everyone speaks English!
- The 6 most common words British people know how to say in a foreign language are HELLO, YES, GOODBYE, THANKS, NO, GOOD MORNING
- More Brits can ask for a beer in a foreign language than can ask where the bathroom is!
- Interestingly the 1,500 respondents surveyed 23 percent said they holiday in popular resorts so there was no need to make an effort and speak the local language.
The survey did reveal that most adults (nearly two thirds) said they were embarrassed that as a nation we make such little effort to learn foreign languages and one in ten admitted that not knowing the local language when on holiday had led to problems ordering, following directions and paying bills and communicating when they had a problem such as lost luggage.
Top tips for breaking down the language barrier when you are on holiday...
- Learn as much as you can of the new language before you go. There are quite often cheap language for holidays courses on at local community learning centres so do keep an eye out for those. Otherwise get some books and tapes from the library and get studying!
- Take a phrase book or dictionary with you. This might come in very handy when you are trying to decipher food labels at the supermarket or when you are asking directions of someone.
- Try to speak as much of the language as you can when you are there. It's tempting not to if everyone speaks English but putting what you've learnt into practice will help you to remember it for next time.
- Don't be embarrassed. Anyone you speak to will be pleased you are trying to speak their language and it doesn't matter if you get a word wrong, the important thing is to try!
Languages and working abroad
You might also need a to learn some of a new language if you are travelling abroad for work. It may be the case that you are required in a different branch of your company or you want to set up a new business abroad, either way a decent grasp on the language would be useful. There are some great entrepreneurship opportunities abroad to have and it would be a shame for the language barrier to be a problem.
Learning a foreign language is a complicated process and it may be difficult to find the time and energy for this. A new language can open up new opportunities for business, commerce and careers. However, not knowing any other languages can be a barrier to success in an increasingly global world. An entrepreneur that knows another language can be sure to be a step ahead of competitors when setting up in a new country.
Learning a new language as an immigrant
There are many ways to learn a new foreign language. Immigrants and travellers will often use them as they need visas or as they go through immigration processes. Online courses are one of the most popular methods as they offer flexible schedules and convenient availability on multiple devices with interactive functions such as quizzes and personalised feedback that make learning more efficient and enjoyable.
Language is an integral part of the immigration process, but it is also one that many business people and immigrants may not be familiar with. That is because learning a new language can be hard to do or hard to find the time for depending on your situation. Nevertheless languages are important when dealing with both immigration and visas and will make this process much easier if you are familiar with the language.
Certainly, if you aren't familiar with the language of the country that you plan to move to, or even set up a business in it would be highly recommended to get an immigration lawyer who speaks both languages and is familiar with the immigration and visa system.
A spokesman for Holiday Autos added: "The survey has uncovered some really interesting insights into how Brits seem to have the confidence to communicate while traveling without necessarily learning any of the native language. "It shows that having confidence leads to happier holidays - something which Holiday Autos believes in wholeheartedly, as we provide book and go car hire and we are committed to find the best car at the best price for everyone's holidays." Holiday Autos have put together a funny little video full of stories about what happened when something got lost in translation abroad!
How do you feel about learning a new language when you go abroad? Do you have your own lost in translation moment? I'd love to hear it!
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