Lost in translation', the travel misunderstanding syndrome
For many Spaniards traveling abroad, whether for leisure or business, the language barrier can become a real headache. A recent study by language learning platform Preply reveals that three out of four Spaniards have experienced misunderstandings during their travels because they don't know the language of the destination country.
When it comes to traveling to foreign countries where Spanish is not spoken, respondents express different feelings: 37% say they have difficulty interacting with locals while the same percentage feel they rely on others to communicate. Thirty-six percent worry that their words will be misunderstood.
Not surprisingly, 94% of Spaniards feel more confident traveling to countries where Spanish is spoken and that this is a factor in their choice of vacation destination.
Language plays a crucial role in the travel experiences of Spaniards, as it is essential when immersing oneself in the culture of the place and getting closer to the locals. 95% of Spaniards believe that knowing the local language significantly improves their experience and understanding of the culture and customs of the places they visit.
How to avoid misunderstandings
When preparing to travel to a foreign country, Spaniards adopt a number of different strategies. 60% learn basic greetings and phrases, 35% practice their pronunciation, 51% study how to express themselves in basic travel situations, such as ordering food in a restaurant or asking how to get to a place on the street.
20% go further and enroll in a language course. New technologies are also being used to get out of some tight spots. Half of Spaniards use translation apps during their trips, although they are not enough to enjoy an immersion in the culture of the destination.
Only 2% of Spaniards trust another person to get them out of a jam in the event of a misunderstanding, which indicates that the vast majority are convinced that they need, at least, to be able to get by and give or ask for simple explanations.
On the other hand, 94% of respondents believe that knowing the language improves their level of security, as it prevents them, for example, from becoming a target of deception.
Preply is a language learning marketplace that connects tutors with hundreds of thousands of students in 180 countries around the world. More than 35,000 tutors teach more than 50 languages, aided by an automated learning algorithm that recommends the best teachers for each student. Founded in the United States in 2012 by three Ukrainian co-founders, Kirill Bigai, Serge Lukyanov and Dmytro Voloshyn, Preply has grown from a team of 3 people to a company of nearly 500 employees of 60 different nationalities. With offices in Barcelona, New York and Kiev, employees work in 30 countries in Europe, the United States, Africa, Asia and Latin America.