One of the characteristics about Berlin that I love is the international mix of people. Last night, when I was walking out of the train station (Bahnhof), a few Spanish tourist stopped me and asked me in English, "Scuse me, can you help find this address?" I realized how universal English really is...Spanish people traveling in Germany speak English to communicate, because they assume the people here can speak English more than they can speak Spanish.
Since I studied abroad in Spain while I was in College, I was able to answer them in Spanish, and show them where they needed to go. When I answered in Spanish, they were delighted! They were so excited that I could speak Spanish, that they hugged me when we said good bye.
Sometimes the opposite can be true, and you actually wish the people would respond in the language that isn't your native tongue, so that you can improve. Right now, since I don't speak German, I am grateful when people can speak English and can help me along my way. However, once someone starts learning a language, it is more valuable to speak in that new language, even if it takes longer to communicate. Also, it becomes a two-way street. As a native English speaking person, learning German, I will (soon) want to speak in German when I am lost and need directions, or if i need help in a grocery store. Currently, once people understand that I don't really speak German, they immediately answer me in English. They have their own desires to
practice their English, as well as to communicate effectively and efficiently. Their goal becomes to convey the information I need as I will best understand it. They will rarely consider whether or not I actually want to communicate in English, or whether I actually want to try to communicate in German.
For those who are actually learning German, this can be frustrating to have everyone always switch into English to communicate simply because it is not helping them to improve their German. On the other hand, communicating to people in their native tongue is always appreciated when those people are more interested in traveling than actually learning a new language, like the Spanish tourists.
I have some Italian colleagues here in Germany, who have decided they don't really need to learn German, because they can communicate in English. One of these colleagues told me that he managed to find an Italian dentist, and a doctor who spoke English.
Having studied in Italy while in college, I also speak Italian and try to communicate with my Italian colleagues in Italian, even though I am a bit rusty.
I finally decided that it was time to learn how to read my own mail...and started taking German Lessons. When practicing German, 60% is in german, all of my prepositions are in Spanish and the words I don't know yet in German are either in English or Italian.
Also, I am now a proficient gesturer and would be very competitive at Charades. =)
Since I studied abroad in Spain while I was in College, I was able to answer them in Spanish, and show them where they needed to go. When I answered in Spanish, they were delighted! They were so excited that I could speak Spanish, that they hugged me when we said good bye.
Sometimes the opposite can be true, and you actually wish the people would respond in the language that isn't your native tongue, so that you can improve. Right now, since I don't speak German, I am grateful when people can speak English and can help me along my way. However, once someone starts learning a language, it is more valuable to speak in that new language, even if it takes longer to communicate. Also, it becomes a two-way street. As a native English speaking person, learning German, I will (soon) want to speak in German when I am lost and need directions, or if i need help in a grocery store. Currently, once people understand that I don't really speak German, they immediately answer me in English. They have their own desires to
practice their English, as well as to communicate effectively and efficiently. Their goal becomes to convey the information I need as I will best understand it. They will rarely consider whether or not I actually want to communicate in English, or whether I actually want to try to communicate in German.
For those who are actually learning German, this can be frustrating to have everyone always switch into English to communicate simply because it is not helping them to improve their German. On the other hand, communicating to people in their native tongue is always appreciated when those people are more interested in traveling than actually learning a new language, like the Spanish tourists.
I have some Italian colleagues here in Germany, who have decided they don't really need to learn German, because they can communicate in English. One of these colleagues told me that he managed to find an Italian dentist, and a doctor who spoke English.
Having studied in Italy while in college, I also speak Italian and try to communicate with my Italian colleagues in Italian, even though I am a bit rusty.
I finally decided that it was time to learn how to read my own mail...and started taking German Lessons. When practicing German, 60% is in german, all of my prepositions are in Spanish and the words I don't know yet in German are either in English or Italian.
Also, I am now a proficient gesturer and would be very competitive at Charades. =)
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