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Advisable to travel in South America, without knowning Spanish or Portugesee Advisable to travel in South America, without knowning Spanish or Portugesee
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Photo by Alessio Corradini, on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia, of two locals

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Alessio Corradini,
on the Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia,
of two locals



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  #1  
Old 13 Feb 2021
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Advisable to travel in South America, without knowning Spanish or Portugesee
Is it advisable to do this? How many people are speaking Englisch?
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  #2  
Old 13 Feb 2021
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In countries where I don't speak the language, I always carry a little book with me with pictures of the most common things like food, gasstation, hotel etc. so with pictures you can show what you want.

I have another, a smaller book but I found this on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Wordless-Trav.../dp/0898158095
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  #3  
Old 14 Feb 2021
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Cell Phones
Most phones have translator apps. that you can download,, on your phone.

But its fun testing your language skills while traveling..

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Old 14 Feb 2021
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Because it shares Latin roots with English, Spanish is a (relatively) easy language for English speakers to learn. Take a Spanish course online or get some books and start picking up some vocabulary.

Do you really want to restrict all of your riding to only English-speaking countries?
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  #5  
Old 14 Feb 2021
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Hello

Quote:
Originally Posted by capricorn View Post
Is it advisable to do this?
No, but you don't need a lot to survive.

Quote:
Originally Posted by capricorn View Post
How many people are speaking Englisch?
As always, younger people closer to big cities will more likely speak some english and the more you pay for the hotel.

Depending on how long you plan to stay think about some weeks of private tutoring or a language school.

I did 10 lessons at home and travelled half way through Mexico.
Was enough but no fun, was planning to go to a school for a few weeks.
Found a great place in Puerto Escondido, first lesson was "difference between ser and estar".

sushi
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Old 15 Feb 2021
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People are friendly everywhere - you won't run into difficulties eating and drinking, and people will help you avoid insecure situations. However if you're trying to explain an electrical or mechanical problem (or anything else more complicated) you may find a barrier, however I wouldn't let this stop you - part of the fun. I've travelled many places where I knew little or nothing of the language (in South America and elsewhere), and never been unable to get along.
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  #7  
Old 15 Feb 2021
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Spent two years in China and ndver progressed beyond Hello goodbye and counting to 10.
6 months in Turkey and Morocco with zero language ability.
Fair while Mexico andv south America including Brasil with almost no conversation skills.

Pretty good at miming though.
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Old 15 Feb 2021
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Attitude
I think that it has to do a lot with your own attitude.

I you try to meet people in their own way and language as good as you can. Pictures, pointing, trying a few words....They get happy and things go well.
I know some Spanish and Portuguese.
If I start with English and assume that they will adapt to me, they do not what to speak English.

But if I start in Portuguese, and they realize that I try to do my best. But it does not go that well. They often answer with an English explanation. Not good for my learning, but it works.
We are the guests, that should accept and adopt.

Not American gringos that think that they are superior and behave accordingly.

I might get some hammer in my head for this opinion. But that is OK
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  #9  
Old 15 Feb 2021
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I did travelling 6 months in SA without spanish skills. Did a Transafrica without french, did travel in Idia, Thailand and Laos without local language skills.

You get what you can expect.

Travelling is possible. For socializing and fight against feeling lonely you can use Traveler Map, or visiting hostels where you can meet english speakers.

Getting in touch with locals is limited to the upper class, who was able to learn other languages.

So you will miss how helpful and nice the people are, even in remote areas.

To train a new language seems a good way to start a trip

If you like to see landscape, dont want to get in touch with locals - you can start without to know the local language.

Guess some of my most valuable travel apps will help you too..

Surfy
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  #10  
Old 15 Feb 2021
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If you don't do well with other languages(me), try to learn a few things--please, thank you, I need, I want, how much, count to 20, where is a motel, menu please, please(or whatever you prefer), I like your country, everyone is so friendly, like your food, I speak very very very little Spanish, do you speak English? Be polite, do not show disgust with the local situations, do not talk politics-you are a visitor, not a voter. I went from Louisiana to Bolivia and lived in Lima for a year with that amount of language skill. Smile a lot , even when you want to hit them with a hammer. I found people who spoke English at a cross road in Bolivia. Carry a dictionary. Have fun.
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Old 15 Feb 2021
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If you want to try an online language course in Spanish then there is a voucher for Babbel.com where you get 6 months extra tuition if you go for the 6 month course. The voucher code is “FISH”. I have no idea how long the voucher is valid for. The voucher is from a podcast called “No Such Thing As A Fish”.
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Old 16 Feb 2021
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I would hazard a guess that 99% of people who have travelled in South America do not speak any of the native languages.

And they did just fine.

However, your experience will be richer if you make the effort.

You're never going to speak fluent Spanish after a few months or even years of classes and home learning. So don't beat yourself up about it.

I spent years learning Spanish before I went to South America.

And when I got off the plane, I couldn't understand anything nor they could understand me. It was quite disheartening.

Because everyone talks in slang or with very strong accents.

Most hotels or hostels will have a decent grip of English. And all other foreign travellers will mostly speak English.

Technology now means that you can easily translate anything with a smart phone. Even a conversation.
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Old 16 Feb 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post

Most hotels or hostels will have a decent grip of English. And all other foreign travellers will mostly speak English.

Technology now means that you can easily translate anything with a smart phone. Even a conversation.
...and English is the most common second language taught in school in much of South America. A lot of young people speak English quite well.
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Old 16 Feb 2021
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted* View Post

Because everyone talks in slang or with very strong accents.
Same happen to me at some places and with some people for communicate in English at UK, specially with some of your fiends at your area!!! Still thinking they speak a dialect...
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Old 16 Feb 2021
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Javier, it's been well established that "English" is just an exotic dialect of "American." Take it from me.
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