How do you feel when you speak English in a foreign country?
Honestly, I feel a little bad.
I’m in their country… I haven’t learned their language… and now I’m asking them to speak MY language!
It’s like I’m some 19th century British colonist telling the locals how to drink tea.
That’s why I at least learn the basics, “Hello,” “Thank you,” “Good bye,” “Please” and “One more beer.”
But a few weeks ago, I asked my Czech friend Lenka how she felt.
We were on the Greek island of Ithaka and had just left a shop where we both had spoken English.
“I feel fine,” she said.
She explained that she doesn’t feel like a lazy foreigner because “I’m speaking a foreign language.”
English.
So what do I do now?
What lessons did I learn on Ithaca?
Well, I still learn the basics.
But now I pretend I’m Danish.
And I speak English all over the world without guilt.
Ahhhhh….
2 years ago I visited my Mexican friend and his family. I started learning the basic Spanish words before my journy – just to be able communicate not only with my friend, but his family members. What a suprise was, when most of them (even the 8 years old child) could speak English. He studies in a normal public school. I adore their national learning system. Why don’t work our system in Hungary in accordance of teaching and learning forein languages? I wonder what the secret is.
Interesting, my experience in Mexico was that most people didn’t speak English. But when I was in Hungary it was seldom a problem to speak English. I guess it depends where you go and who you talk to…