Laura’s Top Five Tips to Break the Language Barrier While Traveling Abroad
1. Research. Do your homework and make sure that you’re up to speed on the religion and political climate of the country you’re visiting. Not knowing the language is not as bad as not respecting their customs.
2. Dress smart. What you’re wearing is the first thing people will notice about you before you even open your mouth. Try not to come off as a tourist by dressing the part. This also plays into customs of certain countries. As a woman, I always make sure to bring a scarf that I can throw over my shoulders or head if that’s the practice of the country I’m visiting.
3. Plan ahead. The hardest part of going to a foreign country is arriving at the airport and getting to your hotel. Try to organize a guide or ride from airport before you arrive as you can use Google Translate to correspond over email, which makes communication way easier!! Anything you can plan in advance will make your trip flow that much more smoothly!
4. Learn key phrases. Brush up on all the basics prior to your trip. Know how to say hi, thank you, please, where is the bathroom?, etc. so that you can at least get around. As I’m a photographer and shooting while traveling, I always make sure to also learn phrases that I need while photographing someone. Pay attention to the key words that you use while directing a model and know how to say those in the foreign language. I generally will learn turn this way, smile, serious, kiss, sit, stand, etc. And when in doubt, play charades and use your body language to communicate how you are trying to pose the model or couple.
5. Make mistakes. Don’t be afraid to butcher their language. At least you’re trying and most people will find that endearing and be very impressed by your courage.