Here are some of my top tips to improve your travel and communication skills.
Whenever I meet locals or have the opportunity to interact with new people from where I am visiting, I make a conscious effort to try and learn words from them too.
I often use Google Translate to quickly get an idea of food or ingredients on a menu or to see what a specific word mean. You can also use it to explain to your waitress or waiter that you have an allergy.
Sometimes when I don’t have data on my phone or am phoneless, I often also use pictures as a way to translate what I am trying to say.
I think it’s really important to be open-minded about traveling to a non-English speaking destination and also to be open-minded culturally once you are there.
You can also use body language, sign language, and hand signals to help you explain what you need.