Taking a trip to a foreign country can be exciting and fascinating, but it can also be a challenge when you have to overcome language barriers while traveling. Not being able to speak the language of your travel destination can make it difficult to communicate with locals, order food, or navigate.
However, with the right tools and mindset, you will be able to overcome language barriers while traveling and make your trip an adventurous one. In this article, we have compiled 10 ways to overcome language barriers when traveling to a foreign country. So let’s get started!
1. Focus on your body language
It can be frustrating when you’re in a situation and want to communicate but can’t seem to do it with the right words. Meanwhile, communicating with your body language differs greatly from culture to culture, so make sure you have an idea of what you are saying in body language.
When you can communicate non-verbally (in any culture), that is a skill in itself. It’s always worth trying to communicate if you feel like talking, you will be impressed by your abilities. Therefore, if you could do it once, you can do it a thousand times!
2. Make friends
One of the best ways to overcome language barriers when traveling is to make friends with people who understand the language. Once you start communicating with your friends, you will master the language very quickly. Interestingly, if you fall in love with someone who doesn’t speak your language, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll learn it!
In addition, the goal is to stay as close to the language as possible. This will lead to constant interaction with someone who knows the language and it will become easier. Once people become familiar with the tone of your voice, the manner and manner of your movements will help them understand you.
3. Take notes
To overcome the language barrier, have some notes prepared in advance that you can always refer to if you need to express yourself in a scary situation. For example, buying a bus/train ticket in a small town without internet access or when applying for a visa.
With this you will feel relaxed and it is also a way to reduce anxiety in certain situations. However, this is not an effective method for your daily use. You can simply take notes on a few points, jot down a few important points or the first words you might want to say to boost your confidence. Undoubtedly, you’ll get tired of jotting things down quickly, so don’t write down an entire conversation.
4. Keep a positive mindset
As a beginner, learning a language is a very slow and steady process, so you need to be kind to yourself. It takes more than a week to master a language, so take it step by step. When you travel to a foreign country, you will find that people are friendly and almost always want to understand what you are saying.
In the meantime, you will feel comfortable when you take this on, so own it! It is always true that when you believe that the person you are communicating with wants to understand you, they will probably understand you eventually. As strange as it may sound, it’s true!
5. Participate in language exchanges
One way to overcome language barriers when traveling is to participate in language exchange programs. It is so precious and worth their weight in gold. Meanwhile, you can easily recruit people who want to learn English, as it is very useful for international careers. People also find that private lessons with a native speaker are out of their price range or simply not available.
A language exchange is a cultural way of breaking down linguistic and cultural barriers, a form of diplomacy. Plus, if you have the opportunity in mind and set aside time, you’ll likely find someone enthusiastic about sharing their language. You can also check out apps to help you meet other travelers who can help you.
6. Develop a “Learn It Before You Need It” Mentality
There are many resources that can help you overcome language barriers. While this doesn’t mean getting a dictionary or downloading an app, it simply means investing in what works for you. It could be music, radio stations or YouTube videos as these are all fantastic ways to learn a new language.
Needless to say, most of these resources are free! We recommend that you choose one or two methods and try them to see the result. If you find the process of learning a new language easy and interesting, you’ll be more likely to stick with it.
7. Develop a Strategy
Another great way to overcome language barriers while traveling is to just focus on what you want to learn and make it happen! Now ask yourself: what do you want to learn? Do you want to be fluent or do you just want to be able to hold a basic conversation? Also, do you want to learn for work or for pleasure? Find answers within yourself and focus on learning.
Sometimes you shouldn’t worry too much about learning the essentials of a language, but rather knowing greetings, days of the week, and how to order food. Make the process interesting! For example, there are various situations in which people expect to be approached, and if you can find a better way to communicate, then go for it.
Also, be strategic, it is better to ask for help or directions from someone at a ticket office in a metro station rather than from someone rushing around in a suit with a briefcase, on the phone.
8. Pay attention to visual signs
Even though this one is somehow related to body language, it is essentially enough to justify its own space. Visual cues are so important and great when you can use them successfully. This point may seem scary, but using your surroundings can help you get pretty far.
However, be mindful of the culture you operate in and do research if necessary. For example, smiling in some cultures does not mean happiness, and pointing fingers at people is an offensive thing to do. Typically, only basic visual signs can help you find necessities like a toilet, food, water, or shelter.
9. Be adaptive
As an avid traveler, you can understand that when you travel, the situation is not always the same. Sometimes you just have to stop trying because it’s not honorable to make the same point if the gist of your message has gotten across.
Additionally, you can just end the conversation with a polite thank you and ask for help elsewhere, which is no big deal. Just read the situation you are in and stay in the best position possible.
You were waiting for it and here it is! Yes, Google Translate is not perfect, but it is one of the ways to overcome language barriers when traveling. This could be so valuable and come in handy when needed. During this time, you may not be able to pick up much of the culture, but you will be able to communicate with it when the need arises.
Especially since you can turn everything you say into text in another language. It’s possible to have an entire conversation with someone without knowing a word about them.