Travelling to a different country is always a thrilling experience. It allows you to explore new cultures and overcome linguistic barriers.
However, it's never easy to communicate with people worldwide without learning a foreign language. Nevertheless, there are occurrences when you are supposed to travel abroad for an official purpose, such as a business conference. In such situations, you don’t get time to take verbal communication courses, and you feel edgy about interacting with people in unfamiliar surroundings.
For instance, if you travel to the South of France, you’ll probably face a linguistic barrier due to the locals’ own sense of collective belonging. The French folks are proud of their language– français, their glorious past and their heritage. This is the reason why they may expect you to speak only in French. Similar linguistic chauvinism can be found in southern India, where the locals generally understand their mother tongue or universal language, English, rather than Hindi.
In this article, you will learn some practical strategies and tactics for dealing with the common folks in a non-English-speaking country.
7 Effective Tips for Learning a New Language
Rather than taking a full-scale course in learning a foreign language, these seven tips will help you overcome language barriers. This way, you can better integrate with the new community, converse easily, and enjoy your foreign travel without any sense of inferiority.
1. Learn Some Basic Jargon
Whenever travelling to a foreign country, it is never possible to do a foreign language crash course. What will help you the most is your exceptional speaking skills. Hence, you must learn some essential words in any foreign language. For instance, if you are travelling to Germany, you must learn some basic German words for day-to-day conversation instead of mugging up the German lexicon. Apart from learning some phatic expressions like “hello”, “how are you?”, “goodbye”, “please”, “thank you”, and “welcome” you must be able to speak terms for general conveniences, such as exit, entry, toilet, bus stop, station, water, beer, wine, food (and names of certain food items such as bread, meat, egg etc.). For example, food is referred to as “repas” in French. Perhaps this is the easiest way to learn a new language.
2. Overcome your Shyness
You should not be a wallflower when it comes to interacting with people. It is never easy for anyone to learn to speak a foreign language. After all, everyone is familiar with their local environs. So, the first step in interacting in a foreign land is to overcome your hesitation. Even if your pronunciation is faulty, don’t be edgy– just go on. The locals will not make you feel down if you speak some words incorrectly; they’ll rather appreciate your effort in speaking their mother tongue and will correct your accent by repeating the word after you.
3. Adopt Techno-savvy Ways of learning a foreign language
In this age of digital technology, nothing is impossible– even learning to speak a foreign language. Installing a foreign language app on your phone is the best way to learn another language. While Google Translate can help you find the correct translation of your expression, the language assistant app will teach you how to speak the words of the language correctly. This will also help you overcome your hesitation. A language assistant app can be the fastest way to learn another language.
4. Speak Clearly, But Softly!
This is perhaps the most critical lesson in any language— Be polite and humble while talking to anyone. If someone doesn’t understand English, it doesn’t mean that s/he is deaf. Speaking loudly won’t help you effectively convey your message; it will instead create a wrong impression of you. You must use a precise conversation with minimal flowery language for effective communication. Remember, this is not the time to flaunt your PhD-level foreign language knowledge but to build connections with the people around you.
5. Use Expressions While Talking
This is a golden rule for being an effective speaker in any communication. Even if you’re not good at pronunciation, you must be good at your expression. Talking plainly without any expression on your face can make you look like a bot! And if the other person also replies to you similarly, it will look like two bots talking to each other! If you’re saying something on a happy note, you must say it with a warm smile, and if you’re expressing condolences, your face should convey that.
6. Make a note of All the Stop Words
While you learn to speak a different language, you must first note down all the slang and stop words not to be used in a humble conversation. Even though you can’t afford to take a completely foreign language course, you can easily find and note down all the stop words that may land you in an awkward situation if you use them in open conversation. Remember, irrespective of the intensity of your emotions– happiness, anger, resentment or dislike, you must always use polite words and expressions and must never resort to jargon,which is socially unacceptable.
7. Always Think before you Speak
Our elders have taught us this since childhood — Thinking before speaking always leads to more effective communication and stronger ties with others. Before putting forward your opinion, always think about whether your talk is–
These are highly practical tips on learning to speak a foreign language and overcome language barriers in an unfamiliar environment. Some of the world’s most influential people, world leaders, diplomats, and public speakers have used some of these practical tips to build cordial relations with several countries. If you use them effectively, you can also be a people’s magnet in a foreign land. These practical strategies can also keep you safe from any awkward situation or personal liability, such as a dispute.
However, one more travel companion can take care of your finances in a foreign country and save you in case of personal liability– Travel insurance.
Also Read: How To study Abroad After Graduating from India?
Make Your Trip Stress-Free with International Travel Insurance
It is beyond doubt that you can travel without any financial stress if you have trip insurance beforehand. A Travel insurance policy covers all your expenses in case of a medical or non-medical emergency during your trip. Besides, personal liability coverage is one of the benefits that a travel insurance policy offers you. This benefit helps you get reimbursed for a cost incurred in case of a sudden accident during your foreign trip that can make you responsible for paying for damage to someone’s property.
Disclaimer: Plan features, benefits, coverage, and claims underwriting may vary. Please refer to the brochure, sales prospectus, and terms and conditions carefully.
