It was more than two decades ago, and I was a backpacker arriving in Athens for the first time. The Summer Games were coming to town. While the Greek capital had been operating a metro dating back to 1869, the system had been extended and renovated in anticipation of the Olympics. At that time—2003—some things were marked in English. But many, still, were not.
This was an age before smart phones and translation apps and internet availability all the time, at your fingertips. The resources I had, at that moment, were rather meagre. Mostly, I made my way to my super-basic accommodations using a simple map in my thick Lonely Planet guide. That, and a few memory tricks.
I closed my eyes and pictured the curvature of the Greek letters. I slowly said the name of my subway station under my breath, in a phonetic pronunciation of my own devising: “meet-axe-organ.” And eventually, I got there, debarking at Metaxourgeio. I made a few wrong turns, cracking out the big book and opening to my map to get directions on the street. Eventually, I found my bunk bed in a communal room.
That was a long time ago, and I’ve been back to Athens again several times, although never as a backpacker. But every time I pass Metaxourgeio Station, the memories rush back. And some of them are about the lessons I’ve learned—on that trip, and my travels in more than a hundred countries since then—on how to communicate while abroad. Times have changed. And it is much easier now.
This is, by the far, the number one question people ask me. “I would love to visit [insert country], but they don’t speak English? How will I get around? How will I communicate? Do I need to hire a full-time guide?” In many cases, this fear of being lost in translation has kept people from making their dream trip come true.
And, honestly, that’s really a shame. Because it may require a bit of work, and a moment or two when you make a fool out of yourself (more on that below), but you’ll almost always find a way to make yourself understood. Here are five tips that I’ve found helpful.
1. Simplify Your Speech
It’s not just what you’re saying—it is also how you say it. First thing: Slow down. Second: Speak firmly and loud enough (but don’t shout). Last: Use the simplest, most literal and direct form of the message you wish to convey.
And above all: Don’t use idioms, which, in many cases, will make no sense at all. For example: It’s occurred to me over the years how much of our day-to-day speech is infused with baseball terms. We talk about things getting started “right off the bat,” and important people being “heavy hitters,” and success as a “home run.”
Interlacing these into a conversation with someone, say, in Brazil, won’t be helpful. Even if you were actually talking about baseball, which isn’t so popular there. So, always remember to boil things down to the basics, and keep things as literal and straightforward as possible.
2. Use Your Hands and Act Things Out (Even If It’s Embarrassing)
What is it they say? Only 7 percent of communication uses words? Body language is important. Using (sometimes emphatic) nonverbal communication is essential when you’re trying to make yourself understood abroad.Gestures help. Making an “X” with my hands, while asking when a shop or restaurant closes, usually clarifies the question, sometimes also pointing to my watch. If you want a drink of water, act out holding a glass of water and bringing it to your lips. Looking for the train? Make chugging noises, perhaps pumping your arms in that locomotive-like motion that’s almost universally recognized as referring to travel on the rails.
Will you look cool? No, you will not. But you just might make your train on time, and that’s what it’s really all about.
3. Find Someone Local Who Speaks English
Sometimes, when you really reach an impasse, someone helpful will step in. This has happened to me dozens of times, most often in situations with store clerks or while buying train tickets or other spots where a slightly more complicated and nuanced conversation is required.Once, at a market in Istanbul, I walked into a shop with so many delicious offerings. I had questions about the cheeses and olives and cured meats. How much, for how many? Could I try a sample? Was it all from Turkey? And so on. Fortunately, a smart-looking young man in glasses stepped in, and handled both sides of the conversation—my questions and the shopkeeper’s responses.
He seemed pleased to have helped. So when the conversation grinds to a halt, look around—someone who speaks both languages just may be able to solve everything. And provide a slightly deeper cultural interaction, too.
4. Learn Some Key Phrases
The worst thing you can do: Get mad. Yes, it can be a bit frustrating when you think you’re being clear, and all you get back is a blank stare and a shake of the head. But here’s the thing: When you’re abroad, it’s definitely not anyone’s responsibility to speak your mother tongue. So take a deep breath. And try again.And learn a few words in the local language. It really, truly doesn’t take much. Recently, in Japan, I would greet people with “konnichiwa” and thank them with “arigato.” They were absolutely delighted at this minimal effort, bowing and returning the sentiments—a fun little interplay for both sides.
5. Use an App
A huge difference today versus those backpacker days of mine 20 years ago is the availability of translation apps. Download them in advance. Use them when necessary. I’ve had whole, extended conversations, handing phones back and forth.It can be the difference between being lost for hours and quickly arriving at your destination, and learning about a certain fruit at a market, say, or the rules of a sport that otherwise would seem inscrutable. And lots more. A key to unlock not just a language, but a culture.
3 More Quick Thoughts
Know when to walk away: Sometimes, people are too busy or just don’t want to help. When that’s the case, quickly move on and find someone else.Smile when you ask a question: It will set the tone for the conversation, and, right from the start, the person will know you’re not complaining or being otherwise aggrieved or aggressive.
Don’t despair: Even if the first three people you’ve asked can’t help you, maybe the fourth will. So just keep trying, and you will always find your way.
