In this case, a Chinese woman was attempting to locate the proper bus heading north, while the Kiwi bus driver tried to explain that he was traveling south. What I witnessed was some of the most condescending human behavior in the history of time:

This one … going to Wanganui … over there going north. This goes this way, that goes that way, so get on this one and you’ll be fine. Go over there, oh happy day.

The driver’s words hit a sore spot for me, forcing me to recall times when I too was one of the masses back home who felt one had to “deal” with foreigners rather than sympathize with their plight. Non-English speaking people had no place in the states, and anyone who used broken speech must be of lesser intelligence.

Sadly, many around the world still believe these things to be true. Even more sadly, ten years ago, I would not have hesitated to give similar sarcastic instructions to a poorly spoken Mexican-American if he had asked directions at the bus station.

Lost in Llanddwyn, Wales © Richard0

Hard Lessons Learned Abroad

That is, of course, until I made the decision to live in a foreign country, and learned what it was like to be at the receiving end of such talk. It really makes one think about how much we take for granted.

In Austin, Texas, I know every restaurant, every bank branch, every movie theater. I can read the billboards, the menus. I can shout obscenities across the street to random people and expect to be understood (for example).

In Japan however, I was forced to start from scratch:

My education? Gone. I couldn’t even tell others what I had studied.

My cultural references? Irrelevant. Hollywood may be an unstoppable force worldwide, but I prefer political satire.

My sense of humor? It wasn’t even understood, let alone appreciated. How can I use dry humor and sarcasm in an unknown language, assuming it even exists in the same form?

Who are we as travelers in foreign countries? We’re the ones who have to be “dealt” with. Just a few among millions who chose to live a portion of their lives abroad: teaching ESL, experiencing a different culture, seeing a new perspective. Many of us have sophisticated degrees from university. We are (hopefully) familiar with the art, literature, politics, and history of our native culture.

And yet in these non-English speaking lands, we are the simpletons, the outsiders. The ones pointing to pictures in restaurants to survive day-by-day. The ones who need assistance when renting a car, renewing a visa, and the unexpected that requires a native speaker. We may be studying the language, but it takes time. As far as any locals are concerned, we may as well be illiterate, poorly spoken fools.

I was recently reading an article on the politics of speaking English abroad, which makes a convincing case for travelers and expats to speak in the tongue best suited for both, i.e. if you have a Japanese and a Finnish person who speak English better than the other’s language, then don’t get weighed down with the politics of speaking English, just let the words flow.

Unfortunately, without any kind of middle ground, neither speaker is in much of a position to offer anything. Broken sentences make it appear as though he is stupid. The fact he needs something from you means you are inconvenienced by someone who still hasn’t learned the skills necessary to survive abroad. And you can’t help but wish that such situations never arose, that this person would simply disappear and none like him return.

I certainly used to think so.

Confusing Signals, Buenos Aires © lrargerich

How to “Deal” With a Foreigner: A Little Empathy Goes a Long Way

We might bother to consider the people behind the language travesty, this illusion we put up in our minds. Where do these travelers come from? They’re obviously here for a reason, and maybe they’re trying to learn the local language. They could be fresh out of university and brimming with ideas, people perfectly capable of eloquence. But what do we associate with them? Lack of intelligence: you can’t speak properly, so I must be smarter than you. An assumption so far from the truth it’s laughable.

Nowadays, when approaching a local in a foreign land or being approached by a passing traveler, I catch myself, instinctively recalling why it is I should speak to him properly even if he can’t understand a word, and treat him with respect:

You’ve been there before

I flash back to a time in Japan when I too was dirty, hungry, tired, and in need of information. Granted, I wanted to try and resolve the situation on my own, but it’s often not possible; as travelers, we need a helping hand from time to time.

He/she is not stupid

There are plenty of rocket scientists and brain surgeons in this world of ours who don’t speak a word of English. Would you care to match your intellect with theirs, based solely on language skills?

Patience is a virtue

You know your approaching friend doesn’t speak English. It’s going to be a long, difficult conversation. Suck it up; your companion there is sacrificing just as much of his dignity reaching out to another. He’s counting on your help, and becoming impatient or frustrated will make both parties dissatisfied with the encounter, helping to further prejudices and widen the gap of internationalization.

It’s not the foreigner asking for your help

Just a person displaced in this crazy world of ours. Foreign and local alike, we all have our limits; would you think twice if someone born and raised in a neighboring city questioned you about a local attraction? Why should someone from another country, near or far, be any different?

It’s often fear that leads to anger, anger to hate, and hate to – no, not suffering, but good guess – misconception and prejudice.

While this may seem obvious to someone constantly on the move, having to negotiate in Chinese markets, talking to Russian Couchsurfing hosts, and finding the best bus across Nairobi, it’s often fear that leads to anger, anger to hate, and hate to – no, not suffering, but good guess – misconception and prejudice.

An example: you awake from your hostel in the middle of Chiang Mai with the expectation you can grab a motorcycle taxi and make that 12:04 train to Bangkok. Unfortunately, due to your location well off the beaten path, taxis are few and far between. When you finally manage to flag one down, the driver speaks only Thai, taking you to three different stops before you’re finally able to convey your intention of going to the train station. It’s now 12:12 (assuming the train actually left on time – which I might add, is a big assumption in Thailand).

You feared that you would not reach your destination, causing you to become frustrated at the driver. When you do realize the train has already left, the words have almost flowed naturally from your hidden prejudices: “bloody Thai taxi drivers … they can’t understand anything!”

The cycle is complete, and chances are you’ll be quick to share the story with others, who may well further their own prejudices based on secondhand information.

If only there had been a way to avoid this situation entirely … oh wait … don’t act like you have to “deal” with the driver in the first place, nor anyone who happens not to speak the same language as you. Remember: a little empathy goes a long way.

Have you had similar experiences traveling abroad or perhaps in your own hometown? Share them with us in the comments below!

The post A Foreigner’s Lesson on How to “Deal” with Foreigners appeared first on Vagabondish.

Are you an ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher, who hasn’t yet become a traveler? Or a traveler who’s considering dabbling in some English teaching? Here are a few reasons that can often mean doing both is a great idea.

Notes from Tokyo © *Solar ikon*

#1: You’re Curious About Cultures

Or in other words, if you travel to Paris you don’t just want to see the Eiffel Tower. You want to see how the French go shopping and figure out whether they’re impolite or just a little stand-offish when it comes to speaking English. Being curious about cultures is an essential part of being an ESL teacher, because showing an interest in their cultures is the best way to make a connection with your students.

Now that I teach a multicultural class, it’s even clearer to me how an interest in other cultures both feeds my teaching and in turn, my travel bug. If I meet a new class I’ll instantly quiz the Slovak student about what’s changed in Bratislava since I was last there — because, of course, post-communism means such places still have all kinds of things changing.

A student from El Salvador will soon be asked about the differences between their country and others in Latin America, all places I’m hoping to travel to one day. And if I have several Koreans in my class I’ll be closely watching their interaction as they get to know each other and figure out how to be polite to their superiors (which, apparently, means anyone born even a year before them) while speaking a foreign language.

#2: You’re Interested in Languages

Learning a bit of the local language — or more than a bit, if you can — is guaranteed to make your travels more rewarding. On top of that, if you’re curious about other languages you will fit perfectly into the life of an ESL teacher.

The act of learning even simple parts of a foreign language helps you understand the process your students are going through. And learning the language that your students speak helps you understand why they make particular mistakes.

For me, learning about odd similarities between languages is what most piques my interest, either on the road or in class. Take a silly example from mathematics: the pie chart. Most of my Asian students told me that in their languages they use phrases that translate very logically to “circle chart”. Brazilian students told me they call it a “pizza chart”. And, although I’m still wondering if they were pulling my leg, French speakers told me it’s a “Camembert”!

#3: You’re Good at Dealing With Awkward Situations

Any long term traveler can rattle off a dozen or more awkward situations they’ve found themselves in. Saying no to a lovely Estonian woman who desperately wanted us to come and stay with her so we could teach her son English was awkward (and it was true that we already had somewhere great to stay); dealing with an Egyptian police officer who insisted I pay a rip-off fare to a cheating taxi driver before he’d let me leave the country was a touch on the awkward side too.

School Room in Zambia, Africa © Steve Jurvetson

But somehow, standing in front of a group of foreigners desperately trying to learn English produces more awkward situations than you could imagine. You don’t want to laugh at them when they tell you CEO stands for “Chief Execution Officer”, and you don’t want the shy Japanese girl to be offended or tearful when a loud Spanish-speaker says that they can’t hear a word she’s saying.

A sense of humor or the right sympathy at the right time, or whatever skill you use to diffuse an awkward situation, is what makes you both a great traveler and an ideal English teacher.

The sense of humor or the right sympathy at the right time, or whatever skill you use to diffuse an awkward situation, is what makes you both a great traveler and an ideal English teacher. Perfect this and you’ll have students hanging off your every word. Even the ones they can’t understand.

#4: You Can Laugh at Yourself

There was that time in the hot spring in Japan where I had no idea what the procedure was for undressing and washing — yes, I laughed at myself. And in Tunisia when I almost fell off a stationary camel I had a good chuckle too. Laughing at yourself is not always easy to do, but it’s a great skill to develop.

When you’re teaching a group of English language students, you’re going to make mistakes. You’re going to tell them that “chocolate” is a countable noun when their textbook says it’s uncountable (and really, it depends). You’re even going to make spelling mistakes when you write on the board, and you’re not going to know the answer to every question your students ask you. No problem — it’s okay to be human, laugh at yourself and promise to check up and get back to them.

Laughing at yourself in an ESL class is also a great way to break the ice. Do something silly and your students will feel that they also have the license to take risks and make mistakes. I’m sure laughter leads to the best learning.

Not All Travelers Love Teaching English

Having said all this, I know there are some travelers who gave ESL teaching a go and just didn’t enjoy it. Perhaps it sometimes depends on the school and the local environment, on the poor wages, or on unmotivated students. I love it, so I’m totally biased and can’t figure out why, but I’d love to hear your comments if you fit this category.

The post 4 Reasons Why Travelers Make Great English Teachers (and Vice Versa) appeared first on Vagabondish.

Shakespeare has seemed incomprehensible to many a highschooler, but a new production staged in a native language spoken mainly in Alaska had audience members avidly following along.

The Fairbanks Shakespeare Theatre has staged a highly original version of Shakespeare’s King Lear. The play is performed in Gwich’in — a language spoken in Alaska and parts of the Yukon and Northwest Territories — and English. The plot of Lear Khehkwaii also reflects Alaskan heritage and culture, with the story centred around a historic period in the nineteenth century.

The production was the brainchild of a teacher of the language, Allan Hayton, who is also a theatre artist and performed the lead role in Lear Khehkwaii. After being well received in Alaska, the company hopes to tour the play through Canada and remount it at the National Museum of the American Indian in the nation’s capital.

Check out more about this on the CBC

The post Gwich’in King Lear Speaks to Alaskans appeared first on Vagabondish.

Armed with a distinct lack of linguistic abilities but a profound love of traveling, I decided that moving abroad to a Spanish-speaking country was the only way I was ever going to achieve this magical fluency. ‘Six months living in Buenos Aires should make me fluent, right?’ I said to myself as I booked my tickets.

I have lived in Argentina for just over seven months now, had private lessons, group lessons and intercambios. The experience has been wonderful, rewarding, challenging and downright frustrating.

As someone who has experienced learning the language first hand, and via hundreds of other Spanish students who I meet everyday in my work at Expanish Spanish School in Buenos Aires, here are my five tips to help travelers find their path to fluency whilst traveling abroad.

#1: Be Realistic

Despite what many people think, you won’t be fluent in six months. Learning a language is a complex process. Although you will certainly be able to get by and hold a conversation after six months, you need to be realistic about the challenges of learning a language. Manage your own expectations and you won’t feel disappointed. There are tons of interesting articles on fluency and setting goals ahead of time can help you know what to expect.

Studying © eflon

#2: Be Prepared for an (Enjoyable) Roller Coaster

Learning Spanish whilst living in Buenos Aires is the most enjoyable thing I have ever done, but be prepared for an intense roller coaster of a ride whilst studying a language abroad. One week you will be flying – speaking will come naturally, you’ll be understanding like a near native and you’ll feel immensely pleased with yourself. But the next week it may feel like you are back to square one, unable to form simple sentences and confounded by the new verb tense you have just learnt. This is normal. All the Spanish learners I have met go through the same thing, so don’t be too hard on yourself.

#3: Be Prepared That You May Never Be Satisfied!

One friend who has been in Buenos Aires for a number of years and is fluent described learning a language as climbing a mountain with many ledges. Just as you are about to reach what you think is the summit, another summit presents itself. Learning a language is the same.

For example, in the case of learning Spanish, as soon as you have mastered one tense, your profesora presents yet another brand new tense you didn’t know existed. Similarly, the better you get at speaking, the more you realize there is so much more to learn. Again this is natural, and although you may feel each time like you are reverting back to square one, in reality you have just reached the next ledge on ”˜Mount Language Learning’.

#4: Choose Your Teacher or School Carefully

This may sound like an obvious one, but it’s important to be thorough when choosing your learning approach. The language won’t sink in by osmosis simply by living in the country. Take lessons that suit your learning style. Choosing a reputable language school will usually ensure structured teaching and good facilities for language learning.

The school I work in for example, provides a weekly Spanish language cinema club, a Spanish language library and great immersion activities as well as the option of one-to-one Spanish classes. However, some people prefer the flexibility that comes with individual teachers. If you go down this route, don’t be afraid to test drive your teacher first to see if their teaching methods suit your needs.

Understanding the Kuta Beach People © Riza Nugraha

#5: Give It Your All

Your time whilst living abroad and learning a language is precious. Make the most of it by doing as much as possible to immerse yourself. If this means finding an intercambio to exchange languages and find out more about their culture in a social context, do it. Listen to the radio, read the local paper and watch TV. See every conversation you have during the day as a free language lesson!

Many language schools and institutions offer home-stays. This is a great way of pushing yourself into a situation where you have to speak the language. In the same respect, don’t feel guilty about having the evening off and spending time with your native language speakers.

In Short …

Finally, I would say to anyone about to embark on learning a language abroad: relax and enjoy it. There is no question that learning a language is a life changing experience that will not only arm you with a whole new way of communicating, but much more. You will no doubt gain a deeper understanding of your own language and grammar and of yourself (in particular, your self motivation and ability to laugh at yourself).

Furthermore you will gain great insight into others you meet along the way, their patience (with you), and their ability to laugh (more often than not at some faux par or pronunciation error you’ve made). Last but not least, speaking a foreign language helps you understand different cultures at a far deeper level than you would ever be able to in your native tongue. You just need to relax and enjoy it!

The post Great Expectations: 5 Tips for Mastering a Language Whilst Living Abroad appeared first on Vagabondish.

Despite worldwide economic troubles, young people are apparently traveling more than ever! The Telegraph reports on a study conducted by the World Youth Student and Educational Travel Confederation (WYSE) which included 34,000 people from 137 different countries. The numbers are impressive: young travelers spent an average of $4,000 on travel last year, with a collective total of over $221.3 billion, 20 percent of total worldwide travel spending. This number is up 40 percent from the average travel spending in 2007.

In contrast with travelers going abroad to “find themselves” in the past, travelers now say they’re more concerned with building their resumes. Young people explained that they choose to go abroad for international work experience and to learn languages and cultures different from their own. Western travelers have broken the backpacking trend, choosing volunteer abroad programs or cultural immersion instead. Pour yourselves a drink (or three), vagabonds! We’re proud of you … even if your “cultural immersion” just means partying until 8 am.

The post Young Travelers Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop, Report Says appeared first on Vagabondish.

Fancy yourself an expert at identifying languages? Visit the Great Language Game site and test your skills against the rest of the world. Australian data scientist Lars Yencken has collected audio samples from over 80 of the world’s six to seven thousand languages for this online multiple choice game.

Players receive 50 points for each correct answer and are only allowed three mistakes before the game ends. The hardest language to identify is reportedly Shona. Lars invites players who speak languages not included in the game to contact him to make a contribution. So far there is no examples section on the site, so you’re on your own to find samples to study. Since its debut at the beginning of this month, nearly 550,000 people have played and the standing high score is 8,600. Beat it if you can, and, as always, pictures or it didn’t happen.

The post Play the Ultimate Language Identity Game: How Many Can You Name? appeared first on Vagabondish.

The folks at Lonely Planet compiled the most accurate data from Facebook last year, asking fans where the world’s sexiest accent comes from.

Out of over 700 responses, the Spanish accent won with French being a close second. Regional dialects were accounted for, as were ‘outlier’ accents such as West-Flemish, Serbian, Chinese, Sicilian, North Korean, and Scottish-Jamaican.

More information on the un-scientific research can be read here.

The post And the World’s Sexiest Accent Belongs to…. appeared first on Vagabondish.

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The language of Ayapaneco has been spoken in the land now known as Mexico for centuries. It has survived the Spanish conquest, seen off wars, revolutions, famines and floods. But now, like so many other indigenous languages, it’s at risk of extinction.

There are just two people left who can speak it fluently — but they refuse to talk to each other. Manuel Segovia, 75, and Isidro Velazquez, 69, live 500 metres apart in the village of Ayapa in the tropical lowlands of the southern state of Tabasco. It is not clear whether there is a long-buried argument behind their mutual avoidance, but people who know them say they have never really enjoyed each other’s company.

An oddly fascinating story via The Guardian … for language nerds like myself.

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