this post was submitted on 19 Aug 2023
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The "learn a language before traveling" always seemed like gatekeeping to me. I've traveled a decent bit, and I would not have had the time to learn a dozen or so languages. Especially when you have to learn entire new writing systems. I'll learn a little bit while I'm visiting because I'm immersing myself.
if someone wants to study another language, all power to them. But it shouldn't be a barrier from experiencing other cultures.
Learning a few phrases is not going to help you with the language barrier. Suggestion to become fluent enough for conversation before visiting a foreign country is just absurd lol
It's clear that ppl in this thread have never attempted to learn a foreign language as an adult huh
And they’ve probably never travelled outside of English speaking counties.
I’d have to be a genius to speak the language of every country I’ve travelled to, and that’s ignoring the countries that have several distinct and active languages (looking at you, Austria…)
Let me guess, it's all use the same writing system, from the same background (germanic languages).
I mean learning 2 languages isn't hard but to learn one spending so much time to get fluent enough to converse just for your one week trip is just stupid on multiple levels
I'm not saying you shouldn't try to learn language while you're there, I'm saying the requirement of learning before you travel is counterintuitive for wanting people to experience other cultures. I think it's detrimental to try to force or shame people into learning the language before travel, you'll end up discouraging people from traveling. They'll just stay in their own bubble and not experience other cultures.
Yeah but that doesn't really help if you're planning on going through Europe where if you drive for 7 hours you can interact with three different languages and 5 different cultures. If you're gracious, polite, and not a pain in the ass you should be able to move through a country without being spit on or treated as less than. Especially on a continent where the majority have some profencisy in English
Of course this article is specifically talking about English and German tourist. The most loud and obnoxious (English lads) and arrogant (considered the most arrogant in the EU) Germans
For shits and giggles I’m going to list the countries I’ve travelled to:
France, Spain, Greece, Austria, Italy, Finland, UAE, Dubai, Qatar, India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Philippines, Palau, Malaysia, Indonesia - then Australia, US and Canada which don’t count for this I guess. I’m possibly missing one or two, I’m tired.
So, I’m supposed to have learned the language, and respective writing systems, of each of these places before going there?
I guess I should just quit my job and take up learning language full time…. Either that or just stay at home so that I don’t get ridiculed for being an ignorant tourist.