Tech, Tricks and Tips for Confronting Language Barriers Boldly

Tech, Tricks and Tips for Confronting Language Barriers Boldly Tech, Tricks and Tips for Confronting Language Barriers Boldly Parlez-vous  français ? ¿Habla español?Sprechen Sie Deutsch?If you live on planet Earth, then theres a pretty high chance that, at least once in your life, youve come up against the dreaded language barrier.Language barriers can crop up at any moment while  abroad, at work or even in your own neighborhood.Sometimes were prepared for them, and sometimes were caught completely off guard.The experience is different for everyone.Some people can take language barriers in stride. They figure out ways to communicate or direct themselves (or the other speaker) to someone who can help.Some people get annoyed. While this isnt the most useful reaction, it does happen.Then there are those who get frustrated, but in a good way. These are the seekers, the language learners. The people in this groupâ€"which Im assuming includes youâ€"would rather burrow themselves 10 feet underground before encountering someone with whom they cant communicate.But the thing is, theres no need to run and hide.Its o kay to be anxious, but dont let it cripple you. You dont want to put off traveling and miss out on great experiences because of a language barrier. The world is becoming more condensed as it is. If you want to get away from language barriers, you really might have to start digging that hole.So instead of avoiding the challenge of communicating with someone who speaks a different language, take it on. Its not as daunting as youd think.Rise to the occasion.  Youll thank yourself for it later.In this post, well explore why you should welcome language barriers and how to deal with them, using the help of technology and the natural human capacity for communication. Why Language Barriers Are Good for the SoulTheres nothing that spurs human growth  more than powering your way through an uncomfortable situation. Encountering language barriers tends to be quite uncomfortable, but the good news is, most people survive unscathed.Language barriers create opportunities.As you may already know, learning a language is an opportunity to embrace a new language, and, as a natural progression, embrace a new culture. Once you start taking on a new language, youre drawn in. You learn what people eat, what kind of music they listen to, how they see the world. You connect with the people, the culture, the country and you become eager to immerse yourself in their world.These revelations become part of your fabric. You build acceptance, empathy and understanding in ways that you never thought you could.Other fringe benefits include overcoming possible phobias and building hardcore self-confidence. You begin to see all the things of which youre capable, that there is no limit to what you can accomplish.There are really no disadvantages to learning a new language.But lets keep the horse in front the cart. Before youre comfortable  with a new language, youll still come up against some roadblocks. But why let that stop you (unless its a real roadblock and theres a danger sign and the po lice are there, then you should probably just listen to them and not get yourself into any troublebut yeah, lets stay on track)? With the use of technology, a little preparation and tools that will help you on the spot, youll be able to make a quick detour and be on your way.So keep reading. Take a peek. See whats waiting for you down the road.Tech, Tricks and Tips for Confronting Language Barriers BoldlyEquipping Yourself: Technology to Help Get You Where Youre GoingWhether its a literal or metaphorical journey, technology has you covered. Thank goodness. The world of language learning is vast, and technology can help you narrow things down.One useful piece of tech that will help you through language barriers at every stage of your language learning journey, no matter where you are, is the translation app. Translation apps can serve as a quick fix, relieve anxiety and help you take baby steps to knocking down that wall.Here are some of the most popular below.Google TranslatePrice: FreeDevice: Android, iOS and WindowsNumber of languages:  Over 90Features:  Google is able to translate text, audio and images in a continuously growing number of languages. Its simple and convenient. With its tap to translate feature, users can use Google Translate without leaving apps like WhatsApp and other messaging platforms. Also, its extremely fast-working, so theres no time wasted when youre in a crunch.What to watch out for:  The translations can be a bit wonkyâ€"especially when using Asian charactersâ€"so just be cautious. Also, Google Translate is not private. So if you want to translate sensitive information, proceed with caution. Its unlikely that your private information will be spread across the internet, but you never know.Best use: Any situation where a language barrier pops up. Both text and audio work well as long as you use clear and direct language, whether its written or verbal.iTranslatePrice:  Free (limited use)Device:  Android, iOS and WindowsNumber of langu ages:  Over 90Features:  There are many features to this app, so youll have to check it out to see  all it has to offer. However, one of its main features is that it translates both audio and text, and even goes so far as to translate different dialects. It has an extensive dictionary and even offers verb conjugation. Theres quick and easy access to previous translations and your most frequently used translation. There are also offline capabilities, so if youre abroad you can get yourself out of a bind without having to scan for WiFi or worry about expensive roaming charges.What to watch out for:  The voice translation doesnt work with offline mode. Offline mode isnt always contextually accurate. Also, some of the better features of the app are only available with a paid subscription.Best use:  When youre out and about. The audio feature works well, so if you need to communicate quickly, just speak into the app and get your translation.TripLingoPrice:  Free (limited use)Device:  And roid and iOSNumber of languages:  23Features:  This app is really great for travel. It includes almost any phrase you can think of. It also translates it as its spoken formally, casually, in slang and crazy. Most people speak casually or in slang on a day-to-day basis, so this is an amazing tool. It also has a voice translator, image translator, tip calculator and currency converter, WiFi calling, and it will even give you tips on etiquette and culture.What to watch out for: The cost. While the free version is very useful, you get much more from the paid version. Just a few minutes with the human translator can run you nearly $30. Also, the phonetic guide isnt quite that helpful, so its better to rely on the audio when you can.Best use:  Same as above. The voice audio feature is efficient, and if you need to quickly translate something, it also has that readymade phrasebook for your most common questions and statements.WaygoPrice:  Free (limited use)Device:  Android and iOSNumber of languages:  3 (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)Features:  Waygo is an image app. When traveling to China, Japan or Korea (or if youre in an Asian neighborhood elsewhere), this is a great option. The way it works is that you hold the camera up to the characters and it will give you the English translation in addition to the correct pronunciation of the phrase. The app also stores your history, and you can save favorites. So, youll always be able to refer back to something you might have forgotten.What to watch out for:  Its only useful for clear, printed text. The app does not recognize stylized writing, handwriting or text on a computer screen. Also, the free version only allows for up to 10 translations per day.Best use: If youre in a restaurant, shopping, or anywhere theres printed text that you dont understand, then Waygo will come in handy.The PilotPrice:  $249Device: Android and iOSNumber of languages: 12+ plannedFeatures:  The Pilot is  upcoming tech thats not currently on the mark et, but available for pre-order. Its a wearable translation system that comes with a set of earbuds. It allows you to speak your language and the other person will hear you in their language. Its an impressive piece of technology that allows for communication without the disconnect of using an app when trying to engage in conversation.What to watch out for:  The thing that makes it great is also the thing that might make it not so great. It doesnt seem like it will be conducive to casual conversations with strangers. People may be reluctant to pop a strange piece of equipment in their ear not knowing where its been, and germs aside, its just generally an awkward request to make of a strangerâ€"especially one who cant understand what youre asking to begin with. However, only trial and error will tell how this works out.Best use: Long, formal conversations. You wouldnt want to use this to ask someone for directions. You should have at least  some familiarity with the person you share these buds with.Thinking Ahead: Being Barrier-readyTranslation apps arent the only way to quell your anxiety about encountering language barriers. To be honest, they should really only be used in a bind, because as well-intentioned as they are, you lose that human connection when youre texting or speaking through a device. Besides, your brain is the best translation app out there anyway, and you should really take advantage of it.Theres plenty that you can do in advance to mitigate any feelings of discomfort or awkwardness when you know that youre going to be in a situation where your native language is not the primary language. With these simple preparations, youll be ready for whats to come.Spend time on language learning appsThere are so many out there these days, more than we care to count. If youve only got a short amount of time before you travel, you can use an app to arm yourself with some basic words and phrases. If you have a lot of time, you can use these same apps to rea lly build your proficiency.Since there are so many out there, I wont make you look through them all. Instead, here are two of the most popular resources out there that will give you a foundation in your target language.FluentU is an interactive platform that ramps up your language learning through real-life videos. Youre able to watch videos with subtitles, getting a sense of how the language actually sounds when spoken by everyday people, and then youre taken through a series of lessons. Its a great way build comprehension and vocabulary. It currently offers several languages including Spanish, French, Chinese and more. The FluentU app is available for the iTunes store  and Google Play store, as well as on your web browser.Duolingo  is one of the  most popular free language learning apps on the market. It currently offers many full language courses, with other courses in beta and still hatching. Users are able to start from scratch or test out of certain lessons if they already hav e basic knowledge of a language. It takes you through a series of lessons based on subjects using images and audio. Its available on Android, iPhone and your web browser.Take classesFormal instruction is a great way to prepare yourself for foreign communications. It can be expensive and time-consuming, but being taught by a real person can also be a lot of fun. Whether in person or online, you can be sure to find a program that will fit, or nearly fit, exactly what youre looking for.You can find anything from a rigorous program with a tried-and-true curriculum or a more casual course where the instructor adapts the lessons according to your needs. Either way, if you have the time, the money and the motivation, classes are well worth the investment for someone looking to expand their communicative reach.At coLanguage, you can take one-on-one online classes over Skype with a qualified language instructor from a top European university. Classes can be flexible enough to suit your perso nal needs and schedule, but learning materials are provided and their courses are based on the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference for languages), so you can be sure youre getting adequate preparation for whatever language-based situation youre facing.Research and collect phrasesSometimes we dont have the time, and sometimes we just dont have the money. Not to worry. The internet is here to save the day, as it so often does.If youre going to be traveling soon, you can always do a quick search of common phrases  that are specific to your needs, like how to get around or ordering at a restaurant. If youre traveling for business, look up words and phrases relevant to your industry. Meeting a friend or significant others parents for the first time? Search for some common greetings.One great resource for this purpose is Lonely Planet phrasebooks. They cover regional and cultural concerns, some even include menu decoders and theyre all designed with practical communication for the t raveler in mind.Its nice to be prepared with resources that take language barriers into account, and just showing that youre making an effort goes a long way.Thinking On Your Feet: Tips for Overcoming Language Barriers On the SpotSometimes, no matter how prepared we are, we encounter language barriers with little to no preparation. Dont fret. All hope is not lost. You will persevere. If you find yourself in an unexpected situation, try some of these tips to help you along the way.Speak slowly and clearlyThis may seem obvious, but if youre speaking English to someone whos not a native English speaker, clear and concise speech is key. Never shout, though. Thats just offensive. By speaking slowly and clearly, youll help the person pick up key words and context, so they can help themselves navigate the conversation.If youre speaking a foreign language, you still need to speak slowly and clearly if youre not fluent. Youll have an accent, and our consonants and vowels dont always share th e same sounds with other languages. While you might be saying the right word, you may be pronouncing it wrong, especially if youre a beginner. The native speaker will know youre a beginner, so their brain will translate your mistakes effortlessly as long as they understand what youre trying to say.Speaking clearly also includes avoiding slang and idioms. Dont use them in English when speaking to a speaker of a different language, and dont try to translate them literally into another language. Just dont. Sure, you may get lucky from time to time and land on a word or phrase that the other person can understand, but other times youll end up with a blank stare and the person wondering if perhaps they should call you some help, because why are you selling your arm and your leg for an expensive meal?Use gestures and visualsHeres where people tend to feel foolish. Pointing, waving, flapping your arms like a chicken, its all embarrassing. However, its sometimes what you have to do to get y our point across.Remember that scene in Love Actually when Aurelia asked Jamie to tell her about his novel that she dove into eel-infested waters to save? She spoke only Portuguese with maybe four words of English in her arsenal. He only spoke English. Still, together they managed to eek out that he was writing a sometimes scary and sometimes not crime thriller. How? They used gestures. Check it out here.Aurelia and Jamie pantomimed their way through conversation, because neither of them spoke the others language. They got through it. They survived, and then they eventually lived happily ever after.Im not saying that if you make gestures to communicate with a person who speaks a foreign language that youll meet your soulmate. Im saying its an effective form of communication, and, well, anything is possible. Thats all.Ask for clarificationDont be afraid to do this. People dont typically like to watch one another flounce about with confusion. If someone is speaking to you, chances are they want you to understand what theyre saying, otherwise, they wouldnt waste their time. If youre not clear on something, ask them to repeat it, or ask them to speak more slowly. If you still dont understand, let them know. Theyll more than likely express their point in a different way.The takeaway here is not to be shy. The person youre speaking to will know that youre not a native speaker or even a fluent speaker. It will be obvious. Theyll expect that theyll have to speak with you differently than they would a native speaker. They may even use gestures and visuals to help you along. Its all one big cycle, you see.Take advantage of spontaneous conversationIt can be scary for some people to casually engage in conversation in a new language. Go for it anyway. Learning a language gets easier the more you speak it. If you have the opportunity to practice (or develop) your skills, dont shy away from it. We all have that pressing fear that were going to make a mistake, or that we dont sound native enough. It doesnt matter. Making mistakes and having an accent is all part of the process.Think about this. When you meet non-native English speakers, what do you do? Do you recoil? Do you scream at them? Do you tell them how imperfect their English is? Probably not. You appreciate the effort on their part. Youre probably even impressed by how well they speak English, and maybe a little jealous that you dont speak another language quite so well. So let yourself speak when given the opportunity. It will only help you in the long run.Dont let language barriers get you down.Theyre nothing to be afraid of, and you have everything to gain.Even if you only learn one new phrase from the experience, it will be something you didnt know before, and youll be happy you know it now!