I'd like to study in Germany my junior year of college, but I can't fit the classes into my schedule. I'd be taking classes in English, but I'd still like to learn enough German to get by.
Would you say that most Americans just expect everyone, in whatever country they're visiting, to speak English?
2006-07-20 05:24:10 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Other - Society & Culture
I try to learn some of the basics whenever I have to travel abroad. It's rude not to. I don't mean that you have to be able to hold a conversation. But I think one should learn things like, Please, thank you, excuse me, I'm sorry, where's the bathroom, Good morning, good night.
Unfortunately, I also know some buffoons that think everyone should talk 'merican.
Like the one posted right above me.
2006-07-20 05:28:59 · answer #1 · answered by l00kiehereu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Do most Americans learn common phrases in their host country's language? <--- They should.
Do most Americans just expect everyone, in whatever country they're visitng, to speak English <---- No, I don't think so. Especially not in Asian and African countries, because their languages are so radically different from ours.
Also vice versa- many ppl in other countries don't expect Americans to know how to speak their language.
Reminds me of a story I read in Dear Abby's--- an American tourist who spoke German fluently was at the airport check-out counter. The German woman at the counter told her that there were no flights avaliable and that they would have to wait till tomorrow. She then turned to her friend and spoke in German, "There's actually a plane boarding in (xx) minutes, but these are dumb Americans; I'll make them wait for another flight." The tourist responded in fluent German- "We aren't dumb Americans, and we would like to board that flight you just mentioned." The woman was caught completely off guard, and her manager escorted the tourist and her family to the airport himself, with much apologizing.
Basically- don't assume that just 'cause you're in a foreign country, no one speaks English. Many people in Europe can speak more than two languages; many Asians speak at least some English, and many Americans can speak a second language.
2006-07-20 05:38:54 · answer #2 · answered by ATWolf 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i try to learn some common phrases and learn as much of the language as i can...i think it's rude for me personally to assume that they will speak english once i get there...u know, not everyone is going to accomodate to your needs, language wise.
my friend took a night class to learn german because he LOVED the language, and now he's in Germany on vacation..he said he couldnt' wait to try out his german over there.
i too would love to study abroad, i had been thinking about becoming a foreign exchange student in Spain.
hope you get to Germany.
good luck!
2006-07-20 09:50:53 · answer #3 · answered by Alexis Samira 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most Americans expect the country to know English..On the other hand my daughter took 4 years of German and when she went ther couldn't understand a word..she could read it but the teacher wasn't very good at the actual pronunciation
2006-07-20 05:29:17 · answer #4 · answered by dwh12345 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a lot of people in other countries do speak English, but you should try to learn as much as you can of the language of the country you are visiting. Try learning the language on your own by using books/tapes.
2006-07-20 05:29:55 · answer #5 · answered by ann k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went to germany and I didn't have a problem getting by with English. In areas of mass tourism, they spoke english, you just have to listen to them b/c it's a little rough.
Screw other languages, everyone will end up learning english anyway.
2006-07-20 05:28:55 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Americans just shout louder in English.
2006-07-20 05:31:57 · answer #7 · answered by Gallivanting Galactic Gadfly 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋