Speaking the lingo

[EuropeanNC30R...]

How many people here can actually speak a foreign language well, and are able to take advantage of it abroad?

I'm just wondering as when I'm touring abroad I always take a few phrasebooks at me and try to have a crack at the language, yet it usually goes mediocre at best.

I.e. With a basic grasp of French I ask for a room (or pitch) for 3 people for 1 night. If I fluke the pronounciation, I then get a 10 minute verbal assault from the receptionist in super fast French of which I understand 1%. While this is happening, I have to think how I'm going to break it to her I haven't understood a word.

This thing seems to happen to me all over the place in France, less so in other countries where I can't string a sentence together over 6 syllables.

Is it actually worth trying or should the British just play dumb? There doesn't seem to be a middle ground.

[Wave2k]

just stand there and speak louder in english
thats the true british way
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[Dom_]

Or speak english, but put on a spanish/french/german accent...Depending on which country your in.

[Claud 14.7 to 1]

I think it's worth it. At least give it a try, they'll most probably appreciate that.

Unless you are really bad, Germany + restaurant springs to mind . (It's mainly 'cos Germanys like their accuracy, and don't appreciate incompetence) A woman wasn't too happy with me in that "Lidl" place, 'cos I got something wrong. hehe

[colin1]

i can make do in french or german and could have a stumbled halting conversation with someone if necessary.

To be honest though, i dont strike up conversations with strangers in england though so I'm less likely to abroad.

The only times i can think of that i would need to know the language wd be buying a train ticket to know the word for 'return', and ... er... no thats it.

beer is the same word in most languages if ordering at the bar and no one needs to speak in supermarkets.

Halting stumbling conversations can be quite fun but they need the other person to be either amused or with nothing better to be doing.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[Ranger05]

[M1ke]

Trying to speak the lingo in Scotland nearly got me beat up after refering to Wave as 'laddy' in a perfect scottish accent. Wave didn't mind, it was the old man that over heard me that gave me the look of death, I don't think he liked my ginger wig and tartan hat either.

[zxr6_Rulez]

well i can speak arabic, the classical posh arabic not the slang mest up style these days.

[kawashima]

When I travelled germany and ordered orange juice(L) in Mcdonald in my poor German, she didn't understand me at all. She freezed like"???". So I ordered in english then she finally understood me . After that I lost my confidence in my German. So I used German only for fixed phrase "do you have single room?" "This please".

[instigator]

My level of understanding in french is relatively good, I can usually understand what folk say to me, however, making up a sentence to reply with is usually painful and time consuming.

I was wondering, from those that have gone abroad, what real difficulties you have come across (tell a story) with the obvious language problems. I.e paying for petrol (you say much or jsut point to the bike ), in a pub or even at camp sites. How did you go about arranging accomodation as well?Don't mean to go off topic!

It's been 10+ years since I've been around europe with the folks and I plan to do it again, this time on the bike. (not going to suggest a date as I'll most likely dissapoint myself.)

[Black Knight]

Its well worth speaking a foriegn language, or at least a few phrases. Makes things so much easier.

Not to mention the fact the ladies love it, its got me a few senorittas in my time
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Where does a turn end? 'Where you can do anything with the gas you want to, where you are brave again, where your attention is free from the turn, where you are sure you can do it better next time; that's the end' - Keith Code.

[MalcolmT]

If you aint a foreigner then why speak a foreign language !
I’ve lived in South Africa for years and never needed to speak the local lingo’s. Mind you there are 11 official languages. Also I’ve worked in Angola and Mozambique and the locals just love to practice their Ingrish rather than speaking the ‘Pork and Cheese’
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A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.
Wise words from Ogri.
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[Nath]

Yeah, try doing that in France or Spain and see how far you get. The average person is your average town will not speak a word of English.
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Hard livin', hard luck.

[MalcolmT]

Sounds a little like Wales.
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A bike on the road is worth two in the shed.
Wise words from Ogri.
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[EuropeanNC30R...]