I have had the intention of doing some travelling when financially feasible, and I am looking to do some solo trips from maybe next year or the year after.

I have never travelled abroad before, and I am looking for some advice from those that have. The prospect of travelling solo doesn’t bother me as I am quite quiet/private.
An issue that I wanted advice on was the language barrier. I’m not arrogant enough to think that every country should speak English, however I don’t speak any other languages myself.

I am wondering how common it is to encounter English speakers once you start to get off the beaten track: when travelling between places that perhaps wouldn’t be obvious tourist places, or refuelling for example

If there was one language that people would recommend to learn some of for travel mostly in continental Europe what would it be? Or perhaps it’s possible to get by with just some common phrases?

The truth is I’m simply not a very outgoing person, bit of an introvert. But I am also a realist and I am aware it isn’t possible to travel without encountering at least some people.

Thanks folks.

Firstly

Never rely on someone having English speaking skills, although sometimes, they will surprise you
Once in the back woods of any country, hand gestures work very nicely, but it certainly helps and shows respect, if you brush up on some local basic sayings before you leave.
Around Asia, where we mostly tour, I carry a cheat sheet that I have printed off each trip Works for me, mostly, but my pronunciation gets a laugh every time
You will meet some amazing people and it only takes a sincere look and some crappy hand gestures, to get along
Enjoy your planning Milit

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My memory is becoming that good, I should be able to organise my own surprise party soon

Don't worry about it too much. We have been travelling for years and lived in China for two years and have enough trouble with English at times let alone any other language.

Cheat sheets prepared with google translate are good, but now you can carry a smart phone with dozens of languages off-line and that helps a lot. Yes, always possible to get into sticky situations with repairs and such, but acting skills go a long way.

Just remember the golden rule - if they can't understand you the first time, just speak louder and louder until they can.

Tip - many more people can read and write English than are willing to try speaking it (about half a billion in China just for starters) so try writing things down is talking seems not to work.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

Sadly (or happily) the best single language to be able to speak for multi country travel in Europe is English. Obviously French is better in France, German in Germany etc but in my experience you'll come across more people throughout the continent with some understanding of English than you'll find French speakers in Germany, Italian speakers in Poland and similar - border areas excepted of course.

As a general rule you'll find English more easily understood in cities or tourist areas - people often need it to make a living. Out in the "backwoods" it'll be less likely and if you really need to get something across your best bet might be to find a schoolkid or two to act as intermediaries. Failing that a long and slightly awkward session with a phrase book / google translate etc.

Thankyou for taking the time to reply, it is appreciated.

Interesting comments, some things I hadn't considered there.

A cheat sheet sounds a good idea, coupled with learning some basics and it might be enough to get by without having to wet myself and run away crying.

Thanks

I was raised using only one language. Dad said he wanted us to be illiterate in only one language. I flunked Spanish once in college, was given a D in the second course because the teacher had pity on me. I could ask for , the bathroom and the menu. Before going to S America I learned how to say thanks, please, I need, how much, I think this is a nice country, all the people are so friendly, the is great and how to count to 100. I was in a dusty cross road in Bolivia when a local asked if he could speak English to me to improve his own. A dictionary is good, apps on the phone is better, a smile and not looking like you think the locals are beneath you is best.

Speaking queens english is quite important too. I allways have to speak for my wife as she has a "suffolk" accent which non english english speakers have difficulty with. But yes as said learn some basic stuff. Even just hello is good.

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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

While on the road, always allow some conversations with hands, feet, and exchanging phrases to happen. Patience and local food and drinks always help with that, too!

Actually Milit - having re read your first post, you are not alone, there are so many people like yourself, I've met that would love to take that first step but don't. What can make all the difference to every single one is just doing it. I have almost bullied a couple of mates of mine to just go and do it. They were for ever finding reasons not to go , one being language. They now laugh at it all, a little angry with themselves.

Trust me, many will back me on this - 100% guaranteed. JUST GO ! You will wonder what you ever worried about. You may well come back a totally different person.

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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway

You can buy a travel book that has about a hundred or so pictures of things you are most likely to want eg hotel, drink, chicken, eggs, water, fuel, doctor etc etc. Its pocket sized and a bit Janet and John but works a treat........ Used it in india when the word for toilet and bill were confused by my terrible pronunciation, the shop owners howled with laughter as did we when we realised what we thought we were asking for.
Not expensive and a good back up for where English isn't common, the locals can also teach you what the words for each picture is, as can you for them.... Great fun after a few s

I think this is the book that Chris means:
Development of picture dictionary (2007-2013) - » Boxo which is now also available as a smartphone app.

In Eastern Europe German gets you a long way, but beyond that you're mainly using hand, feet and facial gestures. And that works fine. I speak 5 or 6 languages which is absolutely useless once you get further away from Europe...

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Our website: tenhoope.net
Not all those who wander are lost. Usually, however, I am...

Well, almost all Germans have learned english in school from 1st grade.
So everyone will understand if you talk in simple words and slowly. Pronounced correctly, and clear it won´t be any problem. The more north you travel, the more english ist understood and spoken (though sometimes with a funny accent (i.e. in the netherlands)). In those countries the films are not synchronized, so they are used to the english language.
The more you go to the south, the less english ist spoken.
And some folks just don´t want to speak other than their own language.
I.e. I live near the french boarder, almost all french people living in that area do speak german, but when adressed in German, they will answer in french, if I answer in French, they switch to their dialect. Well I do understand that dialect., too Some people are just not willing to talk to you because you are an alien ...but some don´t care about the language and are open to you.
I can tell you from own experience that speaking the local language is a plus, but you can communicate without speaking the local language in many ways.
I carry an offline translator on my phone, and I carry a booklet with pictures in it to show what I mean.
It brought me around the world without starving...

If you travel east, german is widely understood (i.e. Hungary and Romania (their ancestors came from Germany undreds of years ago and the german culture and language is an integral part of their lives), or Turkey, as many turkish people have worked in Germany.) Further east it´s russian, which will be understood by most of the people in Central Asia and the former USSR. English isn´t spoken by many.
And you might find fellow travellers who do speak the local langage...

Good luck and enjoy!

This book has been used successfully by my husband when working in Russia and later by both of us in middle of nowhere places in the Stans to order some sort of food! It covers a lot of ground (altough no motorbikes!).

Point It

Although pictures are a bit too small ....

I am sure these days there are plenty like these or you can make your own one! Very useful.

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Thank you to all who have replied, it is very much appreciated.

There is lots of information here of value to me, which I think will enable me to prepare myself well.

Make sure you come back and tell us what a great time you had

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Regards Tim

Learning my craft for the big stuff, it won't be long now and it's not that far anyway