I typically do fine in social situations, but not when there’s a language barrier. I feel awkward when I’m at gatherings where everyone speaks a different language. They’re all able to speak English proficiently, but are more comfortable speaking their own language.
I can understand about 60-70% of the conversations, but can speak even less (primary school level). One common activity is playing board games, which involve lots of communication, and I feel awkward and lost most of the time due to the language barrier.
It also feels weird to make everyone switch to English just because of me. I would prefer not to attend, but sometimes I don’t have a choice, and won’t get into further details. How do I casually handle such situations at times where I need to attend?
2 comments
Just speak their language and act like you always do. Utilize your hands and body gestures to make yourself easier to understand. Luckily if you have trouble finding a word or two just borrow it from english but make sure to keep on speaking the language. Usually even if you say something strange if it’s understandable you should be fine. Im pretty good friends with a few people who at one point i spoke their language at quite a low level. But with hand movements, charades, and simplification of complicated words (environmental pollution–>dirty air and water problem) we were able to have regular conversations. If it really does bother you that much start setting aside more time to study the language.
Decide to “be the idiot” I am assuming that you are a visitor to their country, but most people who speak English as a second language have, at some stage, had someone look down on them because their English wasn’t “good enough” when they are laughing at you, they are releasing their own past embarrassment at those times. Make it your gift to them.
This is also the best way to learn a language.
If you want to speed up the process, Tim ferris did some writing on the, from memory, hundred most important words to learn in any language. Start learning those words.
Laugh, laugh when you get it wrong, have a “no English rule” laugh when you get it right. Let them laugh at your pronunciation.
You are a learner. You are supposed to not be able to do this. It is only awkward if you want it to be. Choose not to.