Here in Britain we pride ourselves on our sense of fair play. But how fair are we being to the rest of the world? Every year thousands of us go abroad to countries whose languages we dont speak. What´s our excuse? We dont need to learn the language because all foreigners speak English. Anyway it´s not like we want to actually talk to the natives, except to order a few beers off them. Curious and curiouser! How would you feel if two people came to visit you, sat in your house and drank your beer, and rather than talking to you, their host, spent the whole time talking to each other in a language you didn´t understand. I´m guessing you might be a teensy weensy bit hacked off.
NEWS FLASH:
not all foreigners do speak English. And even if some of them do, they generally prefer to communicate in their own language. If you really want to get to know a country and its inhabitants, the best way is to learn the language.
When you speak to people in their native tongue you immediately experience a different side to their personality. Often they open up to you more and you can make friends for life. Maybe you dont want to do that. But even if you just learn a few essential phrases you´ll find that everyone, from waiters to shop assistants, is suddenly more friendly and helpful. Why? Because you´ve made the effort. You´ve shown an interest in their language and culture and attempted to talk to them on their level, as opposed to arrogantly assuming they can automatically comprehend your every English wish and desire. And so you should, because at the end of the day it´s only polite to try, no matter how bad you think you normally are at languages.
No one expects you to learn fluent Arabic. But please and thank you wouldn´t go astray and are within all our capabilities. And who knows, once you start learning you might surprise yourself. Dismiss all your bad memories of GCSE French! Language learning can be fun and just because you didn´t have an aptitude for one language at school doesn´t mean you cant succeed with another one. At the end of the day it´s not important what level of linguistic proficiency you attain. It´s the trying that counts and so long as you approach travel with a positive and respectful attitude, you´ll be helping to solve the global problem of linguistic injustice.
