How to Travel to China and Make Yourself Understood
When it comes to taking a trip abroad some places are easier than others. If you live in North America then the likes of the UK, Australia and New Zealand all have the clear advantage of offering no language problems.
However, these countries might not offer all of the cultural or business opportunities you are looking for, whereas somewhere like China might be exactly what you need. No doubt many people consider a trip to China but put it off because of the expected language barrier. If you are more stubborn and really want to go then here are a few language tips.
Don t rely on English speakers. This might sound really obvious but it is worth pointing out. Believe it or not there are lots of people who don t bother to learn a word of the local language before a long trip. They think that no matter where they go in the world they will find English speakers to help them. Not only is this inconsiderate to the locals but it is also potentially dangerous. What if you can t find an English speaker when you desperately need one?
Start with the basics. No one can learn a new language in one day, and even less when it is one which is so different from their own. All you can do is start with the simple stuff and build it up bit by bit. You will have some low points and the occasional crisis of confidence but then so does everyone who moves out of their comfort zone in this way.
Trust the local experts. If you live in Toronto then look at the Chinese classes Toronto offers. If you live in Calgary then look at the Chinese classes Calgary offers. This is another simple sounding piece of advice but one which many people ignore. There are now expert Chinese language teachers all over the world, so finding one close to you should not be impossible.
Learn from any source you can find. If you can obtain of any sort of material in Chinese it will help. This can be music, internet sites or anything else you can get hold of. The key is to immerse yourself as much as possible in the Chinese language and culture. This clearly won t be completely possible until you travel there but it is well worth making an attempt at doing it beforehand.
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