So You Think You Can Rely on English During Your Language Travels

The risks of foregoing a foreign language

Welcome, aspiring polyglot! The conversation surrounding the utility of English around the world has been popping up more and more recently. Many people mistakenly believing they do not need to learn the local language in order to have the full travel experience. While it is certainly possible to survive abroad with only the ability to speak English, anyone who chooses this path will miss out on all of the most meaningful experiences because they will never truly know what the people around them are trying to say. The phrase "lost in translation" goes far beyond simple miscommunications. Much of the meaning we put into our words is lost when we translate them, and this is standard for most people in the world.