Post: #1

Just a question for some of the guys who travel to places where you don't know the local lingo, how do you cope? I mean when you know literally nothing beyond a basic greeting?

I'm also talking about when you are staying in a country for several months not just passing through for a short break, I recently went to to Cluj in Romania and even though most people under 30 speak decent English I occasionally got frustrated with the lack of English in shops and public places.
So how do you guys deal with it in places like Russia where you don't know the language?

Post: #2

Language trolling? How about learning some of the local language, preferably before you arrive.

Post: #3

More like username trolling

Post: #4

(07-09-2012 05:12 AM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  More like username trolling

Haha, didn't even notice.

Post: #5

Post: #6

(07-09-2012 12:36 AM)Soma Wrote:  Language trolling? How about learning some of the local language, preferably before you arrive.

Was a legitimate question, what if you can't learn enough in a few months before you arrive? Like I said not beyond the basics.

Post: #7

(07-09-2012 06:53 AM)_Samo_ Wrote:  

(07-09-2012 12:36 AM)Soma Wrote:  Language trolling? How about learning some of the local language, preferably before you arrive.

Was a legitimate question, what if you can't learn enough in a few months before you arrive? Like I said not beyond the basics.

If you've studied "a few months" and you still "know literally nothing beyond a basic greeting" then you've probably got bigger problems to worry about. Finished feeding troll here.

Post: #8

Beyond the basics not just a greeting, languages like Russian take months to even get to basic conversation. Seems you have already labeled me as a troll, if that's how it works round here then I'll refrain in future from any posting.

Post: #9

Maybe I'm extraordinarily talented, but I get the gist of a new language (i.e. being able to read most signs, prices, ordering basic stuff, very simple conversations) in two weeks of just living there. If I were actually studying (live and on livemocha.com, for example), it would go even faster.

I know it's fiendishly complicated for English-speaking people to learn Slavic languages (which Romanian isn't, but still), yet if you have several months available, you should definitely invest at least a few weeks of intensive learning! After all, what choice do you have?

Post: #10

(07-09-2012 07:03 AM)_Samo_ Wrote:  Beyond the basics not just a greeting, languages like Russian take months to even get to basic conversation. Seems you have already labeled me as a troll, if that's how it works round here then I'll refrain in future from any posting.

Your question sounded very trollish. If you want to learn the local language to pick up chicks with it than you have to make quite some effort. You make it sound like you're looking for the easy way out. There is no easy way.

Just buy a Lonely Planet pocket translation book. They are very easy to use and you can pick up the language pretty quick. I did the same in Russia when i was traveling there for two months.

Post: #11

It was a short notice thing, I only had 2 weeks to learn the language. I was just curious to see how most guys cope as I've read guys going to places like Ukraine, Poland,Russia etc just relying on English.

Post: #12

(07-09-2012 07:26 AM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  

(07-09-2012 07:03 AM)_Samo_ Wrote:  Beyond the basics not just a greeting, languages like Russian take months to even get to basic conversation. Seems you have already labeled me as a troll, if that's how it works round here then I'll refrain in future from any posting.

Your question sounded very trollish. If you want to learn the local language to pick up chicks with it than you have to make quite some effort. You make it sound like you're looking for the easy way out. There is no easy way.

Just buy a Lonely Planet pocket translation book. They are very easy to use and you can pick up the language pretty quick. I did the same in Russia when i was traveling there for two months.

Fair enough, I'm not a seasoned player like allot of guys on here and I didn't envisage how my question would sound to you guys.
I apologize if my question seemed like I was trolling, I can assure I was not.

Post: #13

Only way I've ever done it

Post: #14

(07-09-2012 07:37 AM)_Samo_ Wrote:  

(07-09-2012 07:26 AM)Neil Skywalker Wrote:  

(07-09-2012 07:03 AM)_Samo_ Wrote:  Beyond the basics not just a greeting, languages like Russian take months to even get to basic conversation. Seems you have already labeled me as a troll, if that's how it works round here then I'll refrain in future from any posting.

Your question sounded very trollish. If you want to learn the local language to pick up chicks with it than you have to make quite some effort. You make it sound like you're looking for the easy way out. There is no easy way.

Just buy a Lonely Planet pocket translation book. They are very easy to use and you can pick up the language pretty quick. I did the same in Russia when i was traveling there for two months.

Fair enough, I'm not a seasoned player like allot of guys on here and I didn't envisage how my question would sound to you guys.
I apologize if my question seemed like I was trolling, I can assure I was not.

Take local language immersion course. It is rough but u leave actually knowing something.

Post: #15

Take some language courses ahead of time and do Pimsleur's lessons for two hours a day every day that your there.

Better yet, figure out each country that you might want to visit within the next 12 months. Then do basic language courses for all of them. So that you're better prepared.

Post: #16

Interested in this as well. I’m terrible with languages. I learned a language in school from preschool-high school and have been to the country twice but still would only call myself lower-intermediate. Much better at expressing myself than understanding people talking to me.