One of the biggest difficulties tourists face when traveling throughout Europe and other countries is the language barrier. Not knowing the language can make it challenging to order a meal, figure out where the sights are and find a bathroom. You do not need to be fluent in the language to navigate your European vacation successfully, but you do need to learn some of the basics of communication in Europe and have a good electronic translator or book to help you get where you need to go.
Electronic Translators and Books Make Travel Easier
If you plan to travel through Europe, you may be worried that you will not be able to communicate effectively with people. Fortunately, a large number of people throughout Europe speak English, though usually they have learned from a book and are more familiar with common words and phrases (avoid slang). If you have some knowledge of a European language, such as French, this will help you immensely. You can attempt to learn the language of the country you will be spending the majority of your time in before you head off on your vacation, but chances are you will not be fluent by the time your plane leaves. Always try to speak in English first by speaking clearly and slowly. Make your sentences as short and to the point as possible. Instead of saying, “Where is the bathroom?” a simple “Toilet?” can be much more effective. You may feel silly, but this will usually get you a better response then asking the question even louder or adding in unnecessary words, as many tourists do.
If the person you are attempting to communicate with does not understand you at all, try to speak their language. This can be scary for beginners, but with a good Europe travel language guide, you can find the phrase you need easily. Do not worry too much about pronunciation; they should be able to pick up on what you are saying. Even better, practice some key phrases before you even leave American soil, so that you do not have to page through your travel language translator constantly.
There are also electronic translators that are very effective. Instead of paging through a translator book, you simply type in the phrase or word you want, and then select the language. You will get a quick translation so that you do not lose the person you are trying to communicate with. Some of these even say the translation out loud and if you are really desperate, you can simply play the translation to the person.
Learning Language Tips
If you choose to try to learn the language prior to leaving, or at least have some knowledge of the European language you will be surrounded by on your vacation, consider a language learning tool like Rosetta Stone. You can also hire a tutor by contacting a local high school or college, or you can even take a class at a community college. This can help you to get the basics of a language, or hone language skills you learned years ago.
Whether you speak the language or not, when you travel through Europe it is an exciting cultural experience. Try to speak the native language as much as possible to get practice and use a travel language translator that is a book or electronic to help you. If you are speaking English, remember to use concise sentences and that gestures go a long way.
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