Non English speaking countries

TeddyTedson

I'm hoping to move to a non English speaking country soon.
Anyway, I'll know nobody there.
Will it be hard for me to speak the language?
Can anyone give me advice/tips from experience?

opinion guy

I'm sorry Ted I was going to answer but I'm afraid your post simply isn't vague enough for me!!!! I'm just overwhelmed with all the information you gave

Clandestine

Er, which country?

TeddyTedson

Japan

Speaking foreign is easy just yell loudly and slowly in English
My experience with being in Foreign is that it's easy as long as you follow the above. No exceptions, variation, or different culture to think about.

aherringterm

Any "non english" countries in particular? Do you know any "non english" languages already?

Rastadoyle

dont mention the war

Mr. Wong

I hear that country in Asia is good, you know, the one with all the Asians in it.

Logical_Bear

TeddyTedson wrote: »

Japan

a few of my well travelled mates went there and it was the only country they've been to that they suffered genuine culture shock:pac:

I went to holland on my own donkey years ago...alot of people can speak english and you can find expats living there so you never felt completely isolated

Sunnyisland

So your turning Japanese your turning japanese you really think so...

xamanap

Almost any japanese speak english.

Yes. Japanese is very hard.

1ZRed

I hear as long as you hate whale and dolphin you're in

Sunnyisland

I definitely suggest that you get a Japanese phrase book at least. It should have a wide assortment of everyday phrases that might prove useful.

kwiva-g

Here's a link to an article by a guy who moved to Japan... illuminating stuff!
http://www.cracked.com/article_20118_5-things-nobody-tells-you-about-living-in-japan.html

TeddyTedson

opinion guy wrote: »

I'm sorry Ted I was going to answer but I'm afraid your post simply isn't vague enough for me!!!! I'm just overwhelmed with all the information you gave

At least give me an opinion :P

opti0nal

TeddyTedson wrote: »

Japan

You don't just need to learn the language, you need to learn the culture and manners too, especially if you want to do business. They think and relate differently. You'll be confused and bewildered at first.

opinion guy

TeddyTedson wrote: »

At least give me an opinion :P

Yes


.... :pac:

marketty

Non English speaking countries....when are they gonna get with the fukking program?

aherringterm

Dunno why you'd want to go there they wouldnt understand a word you said to them probably with the Irish accent, its a shame really cause most people from foreign countries love the irish accent that we use.

ejmaztec

Logical_Bear wrote: »

a few of my well travelled mates went there and it was the only country they've been to that they suffered genuine culture shock:pac:

I went to holland on my own donkey years ago...alot of people can speak english and you can find expats living there so you never felt completely isolated

It must have taken you a fuckin long time to get there, I'm surprised it didn't drown.

biko

Don't worry, after 20 years you'll thinking "私は何を考えていた。日本人は簡単です。"

Rasheed

Teddy please stay on Boards, I love your threads.

As for living in a non English speaking country, I found a phrase book and a smile brought me a long way. Make an effort with the language when you can and just be nice and people will be generally helpful. You'd be surprised how qui key you pick it up.

opinion guy

Yo Ted
Check out this thread and blog
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=73467960

Grayson

TeddyTedson wrote: »

Japan

Learn this phrase

NO SPEAKO DAGO

It doesn't matter what country your in, they all seem to understand.

Grayson

I spent a few months in spain. My friends taught me spanish. Bastards. After the first week I asked a girl for a light for my cigarette. Pardone, No habla Espana. Como estas fuego.

So years later when I was in another spanish speaking country, I started lesons. I spent the first two weeks learning how to pronounce spanish words. Just reading childremns books whilst being corrected by my teacher. After that I learned vocab. I reconed that if I knew how to say something at least I could revert to a phrase book.

Best thing to do initially is learn a few common phrases. Thank you, sorry, please etc.

After that work on your vocab.

In the meanwhile, see if you can find some expat boards online. You'll find in most countries there are social clubs where you can go along to events. Learning another language is all well and good. But if you wait until you learn Japanese to start making friends you'll be lonely.

I'm sure you figured out most of that yourself. BTW, let us know how it works out. I'm considering heading to Japan or China in September.

Zebra3

TeddyTedson wrote: »

Japan

Will you buy me some and post them back? :pac:

http://www.break.com/usercontent/2011/7/2/girls-panty-vending-machine-in-japan-2078673

Captain Havoc

I lived in both French and German speaking regions of Switzerland, it's kinda up to how much effort you put in. Drinking every night and talking to locals will help you.

narddog

TeddyTedson wrote: »

I'm hoping to move to a non English speaking country soon.
Anyway, I'll know nobody there.
Will it be hard for me to speak the language?
Can anyone give me advice/tips from experience?

Start with the basics, hello, goodbye, thanks etc, and start watching the news, listening to radio. Get a feel for the language and use every opportunity to practice. I've been in your position, and the locals always appreciate the effort.

Logical_Bear

ejmaztec wrote: »

It must have taken you a fuckin long time to get there, I'm surprised it didn't drown.

lol,yeah I'm only back:pac:

ray2012

xamanap wrote: »

Almost any japanese speak english.

I heard that in Tokyo, you'd rarely find someone who can speak English! :rolleyes:
If you learned the Japanese alphabet or whatever, you could be able to learn it. You'd have to learn the language sometime if you plan on living their for a long time.

narddog

Captain Havoc wrote: »

Drinking every night and talking to locals will help you.

Jaysus, without knowing it I was preparing for my move to Germany years in advance.

Sierra 117

xamanap wrote: »

Almost any japanese speak english.

No, they don't.

Dwork

Top tip for japan, just greet everyone you meet with a cheery "Baka!"

It's like our "howya!" Goes over a treat that you make the effort.;) Don't forget now, otherwise they'll think you're rude.

ejmaztec

Logical_Bear wrote: »

lol,yeah I'm only back:pac:

Hee haw:p

SparkySpitfire

opti0nal wrote: »

You don't just need to learn the language, you need to learn the culture and manners too, especially if you want to do business. They think and relate differently. You'll be confused and bewildered at first.

Yes, for example, they love it when random strangers take their earphones out of their ears on the bullet train.

Dwork

SparkySpitfire wrote: »

Yes, for example, they love it when random strangers take their earphones out of their ears on the bullet train.

Also, if anyone gives you a business card, don't look at it, just ram it into your pocket. When offered to "go for tea", simply reply that you prefer Coffee. Saves a lot of hassle. Especially if you have smelly feet.

TeddyTedson

Rasheed wrote: »

Teddy please stay on Boards, I love your threads.

As for living in a non English speaking country, I found a phrase book and a smile brought me a long way. Make an effort with the language when you can and just be nice and people will be generally helpful. You'd be surprised how qui key you pick it up.

Lol. That's nice but you shouldn't say that to me, you'll only feed my ego!!
My threads are usually ****e too, it's just I start so many
But no, I won't be leaving boards....ever (voluntarily at least:P)

1ZRed

ejmaztec wrote: »

It must have taken you a fuckin long time to get there, I'm surprised it didn't drown.

Still not as bad as the time I overheard some gobshíte redneck talking to his equally dim witted mate about how they should drive to "japanese" (or "chinese", I forget) because there are loads of cheap alloys there for the honda civic!

SMH wasn't the half of it!

MistyCheese

A non-English speaking country, you say? Learn Esperanto, you'll be grand.