Top reasons why it’s pretty cool to communicate in other languages:

As we near the end of April is spring finally here? Are the warm summer nights just a stone-throw away?  Who knows?  But one thing that is for sure, next month will be a hugely popular time of year for many Brits as they start jetting-off to warmer climates and the holiday season gets well and truly underway.

So if you’re thinking of going overseas this year but like most of us British folk, you can’t speak an array of languages, you may think that the opportunity to communicate with locals abroad is pretty slim, or challenging to say the least.  But, what if it wasn’t tricky, what if you could? How cool would it be if you could speak to people you meet in other countries and have a proper conversation in real time even though you can’t speak the language?

Personal telephone interpreting allows you to have an affordable conversation in real time and in 85 languages - and the beauty is, you don’t need to understand one word of the language.

 

Top reasons why we think communicating in other languages could be a pretty cool thing to do:

 

1.    The possibilities for holiday romances are increased ten-fold!  How many relationships never get off the ground due to language barriers?  You can always learn the language later on if he turns out to be Mr Right - but you might miss out altogether if you can’t strike a conversation or find some common ground in the first instance!

2.    How many times have you been on holiday and felt that you haven’t truly experienced all that the country has to offer?  Perhaps you only visited the heavily populated tourist spots and dined in the British-friendly restaurants?  But what about the real culture of the destination – did you see any of that?  Having the ability to communicate in another language means you can strike up a conversation with a local, get chatting, ask for advice about the area, tips on the best rural restaurants to visit that will give you a real taste of the local cuisine, where the best beaches and unspoiled spots are etc. Nobody will be able to give you better first-hand insight than someone who lives in that location.  It could open up new experiences and make your holiday that much more exciting than it otherwise would have been.

3.    If you’re backpacking or planning on an adventure trip overseas, how useful would it be to have the chance to properly negotiate good room rates in hotels and hostels?  You could also get help and information from locals along your journey when you have questions or don’t understand something related to the culture, law etc.  You could visit local restaurants with menus written in the native languages and still understand exactly what you have ordered for dinner (no nasty surprises!) 

4.    Have you always dreamed of working overseas?  Fancy being a travel rep, working in a beach bar or are you planning to set up a business abroad?  If you could have conversations in 85 languages as and when you need to, this would certainly increase your chances of success, no question.

5.    Our last cool reason has to be the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.  How many friendships never start due to a language barrier?  It’s good to talk, so get talking! 

The humble pictograph – could it lead to the death of learning a foreign language?

This week The Telegraph published a story citing that using pictographs to combat the language barrier could lead to the demise in learning a foreign language.  It states that linguists have constantly attempted to simplify communication between cultures saying that this system (the use of images) can already surpass language barriers and communicate information.  According to some linguists, this trend is set to increase and many predict that pictographs will be the future of language.

The article then poses the question: if we can reduce language barriers in everyday situations, to what extent do we reduce the incentive for language learning? If we can navigate a foreign place with signs and pictures, doesn’t language study become a waste of time?

An interesting topic indeed; it’s certainly got our thoughts racing here at i-interpret4u.  But our view of the above is this: people have always used sign language, people have always used images and, people have always used speech to communicate.  This is nothing new.  The suggestion that an increase in the use of the pictograph will lead to a decline in the learning of languages is a non-starter.  There are already substantial statistics out there and physical evidence available (in the shape of recent language department closures across many universities) to support the fact that there is a big decline in the numbers of British people opting to learn a foreign language.  But is this really a revelation?  Brits are notoriously well-known for being rather laid-back when it comes to learning the local lingo overseas.

The idea that pictographs surpass language barriers may be true in some cases, but certainly not in all.  Like the classic ‘phrase book’, the pictograph serves a purpose if you want to know where the nearest restroom is (providing the sign is in sight of course).  What it can’t do is overcome a language barrier from a conversational point of view.  Nor can it overcome a language barrier if you find yourself lost and in need of directions from a local, or you lose your passport and need to speak to an official.  The article suggests pictographs will reduce language barriers in everyday situations but surely the above are also everyday situations?  The truth is, any of these scenarios and more, could occur at any point.

In conclusion, does reducing the language barrier mean that learning a language is a waste of time?  Well that’s not for us to say; there are arguably many valuable skills to be gained from increasing your linguistic aptitude.  But in our opinion, anything that helps to overcome a language barrier is a positive thing.  The fact is, Brits aren’t renowned for learning languages and this won’t change (pictographs or no pictographs).  So it makes sense that there are a number of different tools available out there to make communicating abroad easier no matter what the situation.

 

UK holidaymakers are missing out on certain holiday destinations

Despite many of our idealistic dreams of basking in the sun under palm trees, kicking our feet across sugar-sand beaches and dipping our toes into turquoise waters, more than one in ten of us have missed out on visiting a particular holiday destination because of a language barrier; that is according to new research from Skyscanners.

It’s no great surprise that many Brits don’t speak a foreign language, but what is surprising is that many people are letting this affect their holiday plans, which means they could be missing out on some amazing experiences worldwide.

In fact this recent survey backs up our own independent research conducted in March of this year, that confirmed that almost a quarter of Brits have never been to a destination where they don’t speak the native language and some of those would avoid visiting a country altogether for this very reason.  So it seems that some people are letting their fear of being unable to understand another language control their choice of holiday destination.

Interestingly, although the most commonly learned second language in the UK is French, it’s actually the country that is most avoided by British travellers according to Skyscanners’ research.  So perhaps the reasons for choosing certain locations aren’t quite so black and white?  It’s possible that deep down these people do want to venture further afield but if the language barrier is holding them back, a visit across the Channel to France is perhaps no more adventurous than a more ‘comforting’ trip to Wales or Scotland?

Perhaps we should all follow in the footsteps of the Welsh population, who have been cited in this survey as the most confident travellers in the UK and are the least likely to allow the language barrier to impact their travel plans.

Brits on holiday – ‘The stress factor’

This week, a new travel survey has discovered that Brits are among the most worrisome when it comes to organising a holiday with almost 50% confessing that it really stresses them out.  For almost a quarter of British travellers, preparation, planning and booking is the source of great stress, from the more serious issues such as budget restrictions to the more practical – i.e. what clothes to pack.

Unsurprisingly, losing travel documents is reported to be one of the top concerns for two thirds of Brits, followed by packing the right items namely having enough pairs of ‘shoes’ was cited as a prime concern for 23% of British women (proving the female penchant for an abundance of footwear remains ‘up there’ in the list of top priorities).

One finding that did stand out to us here at i-interpret4u, was the number of British holidaymakers (over a quarter), who said that falling ill while abroad is a main concern.  To be honest, it’s no great surprise that people worry about being poorly overseas; the change in climate, water and diet can wreak havoc for many and the prospect of seeking medical attention in a country where you don’t speak the language can be daunting to say the least.  Add to that the worry of being away from home and the safety of your own doctor’s surgery, it’s no wonder the whole thought fills us with dread.

How can you avoid it? The truth is you can’t.  You could try all of the usual recommendations and avoid seafood, ice in your drinks, lying out in the sun for too long; but you could still become ill regardless (and nature has a way of bestowing these experiences upon us at the most inconvenient of times).  The best we can do is to be prepared. 

 A well-stocked first aid kit is a must, access to plenty of drinking water, adequate travel/health insurance should you need urgent medical attention in hospital while overseas and the ability to communicate in a given language, should the need arise.  When you’re poorly the last thing you need is something else to add to your stress, knowing you can describe your symptoms, how you feel as well as any allergies, family history etc. could be just the peace of mind you need.

Studying abroad – location, location, location: it’s a tough decision

The decision on whether to study in an English-speaking country versus a more remote, far-reaching destination, where numbers of English speakers are in the minority, is something that every student has to face at some point.  Studying overseas in a country known for its high levels of English-speaking locals can serve as a comfort to some who are braving life abroad for the first time.  For most, it will be the first time they venture abroad without their parents. 

Of course, the chance to study in more exotic locations around the world can be just as appealing for those with a greater sense of adventure and the aspirations to experience new, diverse cultures and languages as part of their educational journey.  But such a decision also brings with it an element of caution and possibly even fear of the unknown.  Studying in destinations where English is not the common language can be daunting and for some, it is simply too far removed from their everyday life to even contemplate.  As such, many students will opt for the comfort of a world not too dissimilar from their own.

Those who take the plunge and stray further afield are to be applauded and encouraged; it’s a big decision and one that takes a lot of planning and research to ensure they are adequately equipped for the challenges that may present themselves; not to mention the high probability of encountering language barriers along the way. But as long as you plan for these scenarios and ensure you travel as safely as possible, experiencing new languages and cultures can be really exciting.

A recent survey however, found that simply not getting enough information is one of the main barriers to studying abroad today.  Less than half of the 11,000 British students surveyed claimed to have sufficient information to make the right decisions about where to study abroad, even though it is one of the most important choices they will ever make.  But interestingly this sounds like a familiar tune; Brits are notoriously laid back when it comes to learning languages, communicating abroad and certainly when it comes to doing the ‘boring’ research bit up front.  But as we all know, preparation is everything, and making sure you have enough information to make an informed decision on where to study abroad, is no exception.

An emergency abroad and can’t communicate? Not a worry for 90% of Brits

What’s really surprised most of us here at i-interpret4u when we recently surveyed over 1,000 UK travellers, was the number of people who are completely oblivious to the dangers of being unable to communicate abroad in an emergency situation.  Unbelievably, only 10% of people cited this as being a primary concern when coping with language barriers abroad.

Now, we know that Brits are a little laid-back when it comes to learning foreign languages, and we know that for many, the thought of learning one is probably of little significance in our day to day lives.  But one thing we can confidently say is that we’re a cautious bunch (aren’t we?)  Most of us would never dream of leaving our English pastures without adequate travel insurance, sun cream to protect our skin, somewhere secure to store passports and important documents; nor would we hire a car without the right vehicle insurance (safe car seats for the children) – to be fair, most of us wouldn’t even leave without packing a pair of sunglasses and a sun hat etc.

But despite this, and the fact that we love our families, children and elderly relatives very much, we don’t worry about the possibility of communicating overseas should, heaven forbid, an emergency strike.

Why?  In our blogs we always seem to harp on that Brits make assumptions about the number of people that speak English abroad – and although this may well be true, it can’t be the only reason we don’t consider such a situation.  It’s becoming clearer that we really need to start raising this issue of language barriers and educating people on the very real risks associated with this.  After all, you never know where and when an emergency will occur, how can you plan for it?  The truth is you can’t, all you can do is take preventative steps or measures to ensure you have a ‘way out’ should the unavoidable happen.

Bad-mannered Brits admit to shouting and waving their arms in bid to communicate with locals abroad…

This week we launched a brand new piece of independent research on how British travellers cope with language barriers abroad – and the results are quite shocking.  Almost one third admit to speaking louder and slower and waving their arms or even pretending they understand the locals when they don’t.  And believe it or not, women have been found to be worse than men at adopting this inappropriate manner.

The question is are we really bad-mannered or a little bit ashamed and embarrassed about our lack of language skills?  We polled over 1,000 Brits and they certainly weren’t backward at coming forward with a number of ways in which they attempt to overcome the language barriers – although it’s fair to say that for the majority of us, ignorance is bliss with 53% saying they don’t worry about language barriers because most people overseas speak English anyway – the truth is, 82% don’t! 

61% of laid-back Britons simply hope to understand the odd word to get by, but 17% of those surveyed have never ventured to a country where they don’t speak the native language and 4% would avoid a country altogether for this reason.  More alarmingly, and despite a clear lack of language skills only 10% worry that they would struggle to communicate in an emergency situation.

All of this comes in the wake of the official launch of i-interpret4u – the personal telephone interpreting service which allows you to put an interpreter in your pocket 24/7 and allows you to communicate in 85 languages exactly at the moment you need to.  And forget so-called translation tools, this is different.  This new service is about real human beings, real live situations and a way of dealing with language barriers that really works.  Visit our site now to find out more www.i-interpret4u.co.uk