Your arrogance is astounding. You know they actually dub and subtitle Hollywood films in some countries too.
And our rates are quite reasonable, too.
So long as you’re trying to be polite, most people don’t seem to mind if you don’t speak their language in the countries I’ve been to, and sometimes people who do speak a bit of English really like having a chance to practice.
Of course it’s nice to be able to say ‘please’, ‘thankyou’, and simliar, but I have travelled places where I didn’t know a word in the local language and most of the locals spoke no English at all, and I didn’t really have many problems. Just remember, a smile and a bewildered expression are universal- however so is looking annoyed and shouting.
I totally agree. Every minimum-wage, low educated drone around the world empolyed by a company which happens to be based in the USA should absolutely be required to speak English. Preferably the US variety.
Also, if some country is going to have access to Dijon mustard, Bordeaux wine, olives and olive oil - while spending millions on recreating French cuisine - then it would be expected everyone speaks French to some level. That would only be fair.
ETA: On second thoughts, I was whooshed here, right? Right???
I had no problem in Japan with my complete lack of speaking Japanese. I never felt disrespected or treated poorly. My experiences didn’t match your statement.
If you visit a country on vacation, I would expect you to learn and use a few obvious words/phrases. If you are in a big city, the natives will probably speak English just as well as you do, so making the attempt to use their language is a matter of common courtesy.
Me neither.
Quite the opposite, in fact.
This. A hundred times this.
I try at least to learn “please” “thank you” and “bathroom” in the language of whereever I am going. Other than that, I do the best I can with a polite smile and lots of gesturing.
In my experience, your willingness to make an honest attempt to speak the local language and learn something about local customs greatly improves the quality of your experience in that country.
I constantly hear Americans gripe about “how rude” everyone was went they went to Paris, or wherever. Then I find out they made absolutely no effort to learn even the tiniest bit of the language or culture. Sometimes when I’'m in another country and see some Americans proudly displaying this ignorance, I want to apologize on their behalf and say: "Not all of us Americans are assholes–please excuse them.
I’ve noticed that in most places I’ve traveled, natives speak more than one language. Americans seem to be allergic to learning any language other than English. You don’t need to learn that many words in another language to get by: How much? What is…? Which way…? Please. Thank you.
So, I think less of the issue of rudeness, and more of what will improve your enjoyment of travel.
Why would it be disrespectful for me to speak my native language?
It is disrespectful if I automatically assume everyone else on the planet speaks English and is delighted to speak it. But as long as I’m willing to try to be flexible and communicate as best I can, I can’t see how I’m being disrespectful.
Everyone in the world understands English. For some reason, occasionally they pretend not to. You just have talk louder and gesticulate wildly and they’ll understand you.
Not me. I always try to speak Spanish in Starbucks to reflect the South American origins of the coffee beans.
Seriously, why would a local franchise in a non-English speaking country use English just because its corporate headquarters is in the United States?
I’ve never considered it disrespectful when tourists stop me in DC and can’t speak enough English for me to understand them. It’s a little annoying that they expect me, a random schmoe walking down the street, to act like a tour guide but the inability to speak the language in the country they are visiting doesn’t bother me.
I can see what you’re saying. But, I don’t think she is any kind of fascist who expects that everyone who comes to her country should speak flawless English. She’s merely remarking upon the fact that people living in a foreign country at least should make an effort to learn the language of the country at a functional level.
However, I should also add that the tone in HazelNutCoffee’s post is a little off – a little impolite. I am slightly annoyed at her tone, too. But, why on the earth should she be polite? She should be so because it might unwillingly give a subtle message that leads people to believe that Koreans might be hostile towards those who can’t speak Korean in their homeland, even though they are going to visit Korea for a very short time. Therefore anyone having to visit Korea uneagerly, for example because of business necessities, can react hastily out of anger as t-bonham@scc.net did.
Well, I think everyone from the young generation should be strongly encouraged to speak English at a functional level. It’s very easy to reach that level. Especially if you can speak one of Latin or Germanic languages, you’ll be speaking English in a matter of days. Plus, English is fun, man 
I feel for you man. The insolence of some native speakers of English is sometimes so irresistible that you can easily end up in a jail. 99% of those who travel abroad are truly nice people. But, the 1% is more than enough to infest you with anger and prejudice towards them. I hope one day they all have to travel in a Middle Eastern country where there is little or no civilization, and get beaten up severely as a result of their arrogance. They are like an ink into to a glass of pure water. They will mess up the whole pure water! They’re just making their own fellow countrymen’s job more difficult. The sad thing is every tribe/nation/race has this 1% of whelps. 
For all intents and purposes, English is the international language of business. Especially in Europe. It doesn’t hurt to learn a few phrases in the local language though. I just came back from Itally and for the most part, I could get by with buongiorno, buona sera, si, no, gratzie, prego, mi scusi, ciao, arrivederci. I just sound like Lt Aldo Reins from Inglourious Basterds saying it.
Oh for god’s sake. I specifically said in my post that I don’t expect visitors in Korea to speak any Korean beyond “thank you.”
Koreans for the most part are very accommodating towards foreigners. As for myself, if I see a foreigner struggling I will go out of my way to help them. t-bonham’s comments were out of line and had nothing to do with the topic at hand.
Very unusual for him. I assume he was being sarcastic. It’s the kind of thing I would be expected to write.
It’s not disrespectful per se and in many countries, the people love the opportunity to speak English. When I was in Paris, I tried my French (which was surprisingly adequate, especially since I got the accent right). But as soon as they realized I spoke English, they immediately switched.
My favorite instance of this was when a group of German tourists asked me the directions to the Pont Neuf in French. As I thought of my answer in French, I lapsed into English and they immediately switched (and seemed very happy to use it instead of French).
As for disrespectful, that’s more a function of what you say than what language you say it in. If you’re polite and respectful when you ask, “Do you speak English?” people will not be offended.
I believe that the consensus is that the attempt to communicate is most important. Patience, tolerance and a friendly attitude goes a long way.
For the record, I speak Spanish pretty well, Italian passably and was sent to an intensive short course in Arabic which was a total waste of time.
I have spent the last 10 years trying to get to Europe and now I have to learn German (I’m doing OK, but I will never really be comfortable with it by the time I leave.)
As for the “rude” French, that has never been my experience in any area including Paris. I had to go from Orly to Charles de Gaulle airports and thought I understood the “Information” lady’s instructions to go to the “car” outside. The only car was a bus, and when I inquired of the driver “Charles deGaulle?” He said “non, je suir Maurice.” And waved me on to the bus.
This story goes on for a long time, so I will leave it here and perhaps some day I will relate my oo bloo doo (E2) story.
ETC: stupid mistakes.
I saw that one August in a crowded Paris Metro station. A middle-aged British couple stood still in the middle of the churning crowd; the guy lifted his arms and started shouting at the top of his lungs, “DOESN’T ANYONE HERE SPEAK ENGLISH?!!”
They happened to be right in front of me and a girl I’d been hanging out with, who was from Carolina, though her dad was from England and she’d spent summers there. She always talked American with me, but had earlier demonstrated for me how she could code-switch from American to British on a dime. So she put on her best Masterpiece Theatre posh accent and stepped up to them, saying softly: “I’m English, how may I help you?”