How to Overcome Language Barriers While Travelling

Nothing is more exciting than landing in another country. But sometimes culture shock can kick in, making you realize how different your destination is from home. While that’s part of the appeal of travel, it can also lead to challenges. Language barriers are one such hurdle — and unfortunately, it’s one that might cause people to shy away from visiting certain countries.

Don’t let it! Navigating a new language is a massive part of the travel experience, and a great way to fully immerse yourself in the place you’re visiting. Besides, the worst that can happen is that you’ll get a funny “lost in translation” story to tell.

With that in mind, we’ve rounded up some tips for overcoming language barriers so that you can feel comfortable and get the most out of your trip.

• Learn (at least) the basics
• Use a fun app to educate yourself
• Watch foreign language content
• Sign up for language classes
• Do a language exchange
• Use Google Translate… sparingly!
• Spend time with locals
• Hire a local translator
• Buy a phrasebook or language dictionary
• Plan ahead as much as possible
• Carry a pen and paper
• Use body language, gestures and miming
• Be polite, friendly and expressive
• Keep it simple and ditch the slang
• Reframe your thinking
• Be adaptive and flexible
• Fall in love with someone who speaks another language
• Practice, practice, practice

Learning a new language can be intimidating — especially if you’re heading off very soon. But a few basic words should be enough to get you through. At the very least, make sure you know how to ask, “Do you speak English?” in your destination’s official language. Since English is a universal language, you’ll likely be able to find someone who can understand you.

Other common words and phrases you should try to learn include:

• Hello
• Yes
• No
• I need your help
• Hotel
• Taxi
• Please
• Thank you
• Good morning
• Good night
• Sorry

Starting a conversation with a local in their language, even just to say hello and ask if they speak English, shows respect and will get the conversation off to a good start.

Learning is much easier when it’s fun! And luckily, there are a lot of interactive apps to choose from:

• Duolingo is a popular choice, as the free version is great and very fun to use. The gamification will get you hooked and make you want to keep learning, even if it's just so you don’t let Duo the Owl down. 
• Babbel is not as addictive as Duolingo but teaches the basics just fine. It also has conversation tests, podcasts and the option to book lessons with a tutor (these are pretty expensive though). The free trial is limited, and subscriptions start at $12/month. 
• Busuu allows you to set goals based on how fluent you want to be by a particular time and tells you how often you will have to do lessons. This app also has videos of native language speakers, so you can hear it used in context. There is a free basic plan, or subscriptions start from $20/month.

Many app options are available, including those that focus on visual learning, musical learning and even virtual reality. You can easily find one that suits your learning style and budget.

Watching movies, television shows, YouTube videos and other visual media in the language you’re hoping to learn is a great strategy. It will not only help you recognize words and learn how they are used in context but will also allow you to hear the correct pronunciation. You’ll be surprisingly interested in the plots — even if you don’t understand most of what the characters are saying.

Learning on an app is one thing, but learning in real life with a native speaker will be invaluable. In language classes, you will learn correct pronunciation, be able to have real-life conversations and get immediate feedback. You can do this before you travel or — if you plan on being in one place for an extended amount of time — you can do it in your destination, which will be a great way to make new friends. 

Another fantastic way to learn a new language is to do a language exchange. This requires you to teach English in exchange for being taught whichever language you want to learn. Once again, this will be fantastic hands-on experience and a way to meet new people.

Even if it starts awkwardly, you and your new friends can laugh together as you are in the same situation.

Google Translate is handy for translating words on menus and signs, but it lacks real-world context and can make errors — so don’t rely on it, especially not for large sections of text or anything professional. Try to use it only for simple translations.

There are also a number of other useful translation apps you can download and have on your phone to help guide you through a new place.

You can learn as much as you want before you go, but the best way to test your skills is to get out of the tourist areas and surround yourself with native speakers. Listen to the conversations happening around you — you probably won’t understand most of it, but you’ll recognize some words and hear how locals pronounce them.

Go into shops, practice ordering in the local language and find as many ways to be around local people as possible. Not only will you get a better glimpse into the culture, but things are usually cheaper off the tourist strips.

If you’re still feeling a bit nervous about your new language skills, you could hire a local translator to help. Your hostel or hotel can usually organize a travel translator, or you can arrange one before you go.

The other benefit of doing this is that you’ll have a local with you to give you insights into the best places to go and you’ll be able to practice your new language with them. Make sure you don’t just rely on them though — speak the language yourself as well!

Yes, we know everything is digitized these days — but what if something unfortunate happens? What if you forget to charge your phone or accidentally leave your charging bank at the hotel that day? Having an offline translation method in the way of a phrase book or language dictionary is important, so you don’t get caught out with no phone and no way of communicating with people.

This goes for travelling in general, but especially when you’re in a foreign country. Try to make sure you have your phone charged before you start your day and to always have a charged power bank on you, so you don’t get stuck somewhere with a flat phone. In addition, have a few phrases pre-written asking things like “Where are the taxis?”, “Where is the train station?” and “Do you speak English?”.

Cue cards are also handy, especially if you have specific dietary requirements. For example, you can buy cue cards to help explain your gluten intolerance and distinguish ingredients that might not be good for you.

Another way to ensure you won’t be lost without technology is to have a notebook and pen. Maybe the person you’re trying to speak with is struggling with your pronunciation or accent, so try writing a few words in their language. Or give a game of Pictionary a go — familiar images like a taxi or train will translate easily. You can pick a stylish notebook and pen that reflects you and even use it as a travel diary.

Non-verbal communication, like gestures and facial expressions, can say a lot. Before you go, read up on common body language cues in the country you are going to and be mindful that they could be different from those you're used to.

Research is essential here because gestures can vary widely, and you don’t want to accidentally offend someone using a gesture that has an innocent meaning in your home country but is considered rude or offensive in the country you’re visiting. Neurodivergent travellers sometimes struggle with reading body language cues, but researching will help.

It’s also essential to consider your body language and ensure you are looking open and friendly. People will be happier to approach you and help if you look relaxed and comfortable, so try not to cross your arms and be mindful of your facial expression.

Further to the previous point, kindness and politeness are essential in all parts of life but are especially crucial when navigating language barriers. Fair enough, it can get frustrating if you’ve been trying for some time and the message is still unclear — but that’s no excuse to be rude! People will be happy to help if you are friendly. If people can see you’re struggling, often others will step in and help. 

Whether speaking English or a different language, try to simplify your message by using a smaller amount of words or doing an easy mime — the signal for asking for the bill is pretty universal, for example. Slang is often specific to the country you’re from and people in other countries might not understand, so ditch it when you’re speaking with them to avoid confusion.

Speak slowly and clearly, but don't increase your volume; speaking loudly doesn't help and may be considered rude.

Going to a foreign country can be nerve-wracking, especially if English is not the first language, but it is worth it. Lean into vulnerability and give it a go! Speak to people as much as possible — and even if it doesn’t go well, be proud you tried and have a little laugh at yourself. The fact that you're speaking a new language is a huge deal, and you’ll look back and be so glad you tried and got out of your comfort zone.

This applies to all parts of travel and life but is especially important when navigating language barriers. Things will happen and change, and it’s essential to keep that in mind. If you’re trying to speak to someone and it's not going particularly well, try different ways of getting your point across. Use a combination of the methods above and if it still isn’t happening, it's okay to politely say thank you and try someone else.

We're half joking here because you probably won’t be specifically seeking someone who speaks a foreign language, but you’ll be surprised how quickly you pick up your significant other’s native language if you do. Learning their language shows you care about communicating with them and their family members who may not be native English speakers.

It’s also possible for romance to bloom between two people who don’t speak any common language — we’ve all seen Love Actually, so we know it can happen.

The most important thing is to practice as often as possible. The more exposure to people who speak other languages you get, the easier you will find it to communicate. Being in a new country far from home with cultural differences and where English isn’t the first language can be daunting, but it will be a rich and worthy experience.

It’s time to put these tips to use! Which language will you try, and where will you visit to practice your new skills? Get in touch with our expert travel consultants to start planning your trip today.