Comments on: Tips For Communicating With The Locals When You Can't Speak The Language

By: Walter Heck

Walter Heck — Sun, 04 May 2008 05:57:57 +0000

Haha, I was wondering what kind of Spanish he was talking about, but this explains :)

By: Jonathan Woodward

Jonathan Woodward — Sun, 04 May 2008 05:55:45 +0000

Damn it :(

By: Lea Woodward

Lea Woodward — Sun, 04 May 2008 05:52:28 +0000

LOL now you can see why languages aren’t his strong point?!?! I think he meant to say “Si, si” as Spanish for “Yes, yes”, rather than “Ce, ce” ;-)

By: Jonathan Woodward

Jonathan Woodward — Sun, 04 May 2008 05:46:59 +0000

Firstly, apologies it has taken me so long to respond and secondly, thanks for all the comments – very encouraging, this being my first post on our LIP blog.

@Ana – Great point about the electronic phrase book, especially in your neck of the woods with the complex language patterns.

@Chris – Thanks for your kind words about my first post. The whole not speaking in slang and broken English is something I’ve really had to work on since we left the UK – maybe I should sign up for one of those courses in Paris :)

@Karen – Totally agree, people do appreciate you having a go even if you don’t have all the right words and it can also be an ice breaker and lead to a few giggles too. I haven’t got into trouble with gestures etc but I do find random words that I have picked up in different countries popping up at the wrong time – when we arrived in Thailand I found my self saying to the immigration guy ‘Ce Ce’ – no idea why Spanish popped in to my head instead of English!!

@Maria – Thanks Maria – that’s good advice.

@Josh – iPhone, now you’re just showing off Josh ;) Thanks for the kind words about the site.

@Becky – Thanks Becky. You’re right, even learning the basics like hello, goodbye, please and thank you, mean a lot to people

@Walter – Thanks for the additional tips Walter, especially the booklet you mentioned. I’m going to check out the link you posted, it sounds like a great little tool

By: Walter Heck

Walter Heck — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:51:54 +0000

Another great little tool is this small booklet:
http://www.graf-editions.de/pointit/point_it_eng.html
It has literally hundreds of pictures in it, yet it is very small and convenient. After using it a couple of times it becomes very easy to use (once you know what pictures are where :) ).

Also, instead of carrying around maps (and thus having to buy them :) )
I use my digital camera to make a picture of the map of the relevant part of the city I need to go to, using google maps or so. Then I just carry around my pocket digital camera when I go out, and I can read teh map off of the screen of the camera. Works like a charm :)