Welcome to another Travel Tuesday hosted by Bonnie, Sammy, Kaelene and Van! I know this blog has been a little more silent than usual (ONE. MORE. PAPER. until freedom) and I almost forgot it was even Tuesday due to the holiday weekend. This month’s theme is languages. I’ve already regaled you with several of my more entertaining language stories, so I thought I would share some language tips with you all this week. I hope you find them helpful! You should ;).
1. Try to learn words you don’t want to know. So you don’t accidentally use them and invite someone back to your room in the presence of your host father. Also, so you don’t think someone is being friendly when they aren’t and try to be friends with them. This is the situation where you should just smile and move on.
2. Always learn a few phrases before you go! Or while you’re there! It’s fun to play with your phrasebook or guidebook.
3. But be prepared to not remember half of these phrases. You will probably remember words like “I love you” and “watermelon.” Sometimes words that are just more fun to say will stick in your head more.
4. If you are gifted with a name in this other language, embrace it. Even if you don’t know what it really means. While my name in Thailand, Mac-Gaw, supposedly meant “pomegranate,” the hilarity that resounded after natives learned my language made me suspicious otherwise. However, my ability to shrug it off and laugh with everyone definitely made me some new friends!
5. Also, embrace the fact that, if you travel a lot, you will likely pick up bits and pieces of many random languages. It’s fun! If you can become fluent quickly, props to you. If not, enjoy wowing your less-travelly family and friends with these awesome random words.
6. Prepare for the fact that, even in a country that speaks the same language, the accent might make it sound like a completely different language (side eye Ireland). Just smile and ask them to repeat themselves, or smile and give up. It’s the way of the world!
7. Give your brain a break! Especially in a country where you don’t know the language. Your brain will constantly be trying to process the words anyway because it’s trained to process language. It will be very exhausting so let yourself take a few naps.
8. Speak up! This one is especially hard for me because I tend to be shy. I find myself much more in tune with the culture and those around me when I push myself to speak the language I’m practicing. It’s hard, and sometimes no one will get what you’re saying (suck!) but usually, someone will help you figure it out. Or, go back into your room and cry a little if they don’t. Then get back out and start all over again. I’m full of philosophy today!
9. Learn all about cognates. They will be your best friend, at least when dealing with languages that have the same root (i.e. Romance languages).
10. Learn some phrases that will help you shop. The basic “where is the bathroom?” phrases are essential, of course, but might not help you in the store when trying to pick face wash. You may end up using conditioner on your face for several months, wondering why you’re so greasy all the time.
11. Don’t assume anyone will speak your language! Even if they do (and okay, it’s a good chance) it’s just good manners to be able to say hello. Even if your accent is terrible or you say goodbye instead.
12. Learn to use other types of language: like body language and facial expressions. Smiling goes a long way, as do gestures! (Warning: be careful in your use of gestures, because those change depending on culture, too!).
^proof that you can make friends of any age with any language.
I also often get shy and don’t tend to speak up, even though it is the best practice. It is funny how English can sound so different in different countries!
I know…it’s easy to preach about speaking up, but so much harder to actually do! 🙂
Great tips! I think the most important thing is just to try! Even if you have a terrible accent or make mistakes or just remember a few words, try it!
But now please don’t tell me you really ended up washing your face with conditioner! 😀 thanks for linking up and joining the prompt!
Haha sadly I washed my face with conditioner for about two weeks!! Yuck! Hence my tip about learning some hygiene phrases, too 🙂 thanks so much for hosting, I always love Travel Tuesday!
I do like your tip #8. Speaking is the best practice. Especially when traveling in non-English speaking areas, it is really easy to use the foreign language – you really don’t have any other option. It has helped me a lot, and I am nowadays fluent in 6 languages, and know a couple other ones well enough for basic smalltalk and necessities.
WOW, fluent in SIX languages? That’s amazing. I’m trying to be fluent in just two, instead of dabbling in many 🙂 thanks so much for reading! and I agree…sometimes the best way to learn is to have no other option for survival but speaking the language!
Also, learn awkward ‘false friends’ – those words that sound like cognates but aren’t. A great way to avoid saying something embarassing 😉
Great tip! I always forget about those and I do get in trouble 🙂
Some great points here Amy. Although I will admit that this is the area i struggle with most while traveling it’s always appreciated when visitors at least attempt a few words in the native tongue. I especially love your first point about learning words you don’t want to know 🙂
I agree! I struggle the most with languages, too. And like I said, I only remember the silliest word or manage to say something inappropriate when I try! They make for some good stories later, though 🙂 thanks so much for reading!
Wonderful list! So true that we must embrace things as we travel!
I must say I agree, some of the weirdest words will be easy to remember! For some reasons, one of the first words I remembered in Spanish was ‘scarecrow’ ….slightly weird lol
Ha I love that! Who knows why our brains work the way they do? Scarecrow…I bet that was a helpful word to know ;). But I can’t say watermelon was much better!
haha watermelon is useful if you want to eat some! My knowledge of ‘scarecrow’ was a good opening line though, always amazes people 😉
That’s true! They always loved when I could point at the watermelon and say it in Chinese–it broke the ice!
Yes, love the smile one!! It really goes go a long way 🙂 Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for hosting! And it’s amazing what smiling can do 🙂
stopping by to say Hi, I found your blog via Travel Tuesday link up!
🙂
Diana | Life in German
Hi! Thanks so much for stopping by! I love Travel Tuesday and I’m so glad to have found your blog 🙂
So much agreement that cognates are your friends! And you always remember words that aren’t useful at all in the situation you’re in! x
Haha true. I suppose watermelon would be useful in at least some situations but not many basic ones!
Love the picture of you making friends. Such pretty girls! 🙂
Aren’t they gorgeous??
I always try to be able to at least say hello, thank you, and do you speak English. I feel like showing that you are a least trying, goes a long ways.
You’re so right! Especially for “thank you,” because then you can at least always be polite…although sometimes that becomes my answer to EVERYTHING if it’s the main word I know 🙂
Number 3 is SO accurate for me. I always remember the most random things and the really normal stuff I either mispronounce or just can’t recall!!!
What IS it about words that make you remember the most random, not necessarily useful ones?? I’m glad I’m not the only one who has this problem 🙂
Ha ha – I love this, I mostly love that you suggest learning words that you don’t want to use!! When I was about 10, I had to learn to count in french and I kept forgetting what number 8 was, until Dad told me it was merde. I can’t remember the reaction of my teacher – I guess she knew it was a mistake, but I will always remember he did that!
Haha that’s awesome! I bet your teacher was a little flummoxed ;). I wonder if she thought you actually knew what it meant or just misspoke!
Some great tips for new travelers! We try to learn a few basic phrases whereever we go, but we are so lucky that English is the universal language of travel in most countries.
I know, it really is! Although sometimes I’ve assumed that people will speak it and it has not worked out so well! Like in China, I thought at least the cab drivers would know some basic English, but nope! Thankfully I had my guidebook so I could tell them where I needed to go.