Why Do Travelers Visit Foreign Countries Without Learning The Language?

[intelfan11315]

Ehh come on unless you already speak the language, your phrase asking "where is the bathroom" in an accent they can't understand.. you're no more "worldly" than someone that just uses english. Taking the time to Learn a few phrases is basically useless.

[Tober138]

Originally Posted by WestCobb

I'm always amazed at how widespread English is around the globe. If you speak English, chances are you'll be able to get by wherever you are.

In many places yes, although I have not always found this to be the case.


I try to at least have a few key phrases down pat in the language of whatever country it is I am visiting - one of which is always knowing how to approach some one and ask, in their native language, "Excuse me, do you speak English?". So at least I feel like I am being somewhat polite instead of just blurting out a question to them in English.


There are some apps out there that can translate text and speech, although they are not always the smoothest to use.

[tailsock]

It just depends on how far you'd like to immerse yourself into that country's culture. I love learning some rudimentary phrases, numbers, common expressions, nouns, etc. before traveling. The US as a whole is a country that's way too absorbed with itself to put forth the effort. Hate to say it but many people speak English in a lot of popular tourist spots.

[lieqiang]

Originally Posted by tailsock

The US as a whole is a country that's way too absorbed with itself to put forth the effort.

I don't see how being fortunate enough to speak English (meaning you usually don't need to learn much of a local language when traveling) paints an entire country as self-absorbed.

If you are interested and enjoys learning other languages then great, if not then why waste your time?