Earth Life Writer

Should you try and learn basic phrases in the language of the country you visit?

The answer is obvious. Absolutely, YES!

It’s easy to do and the benefits vastly outweigh the minimal effort you need to put in.

Just to show you how easy it is. Here’s what I learned in Malay for my recent trip to Kuala Lumpur: Hello, Thank You, Chicken, Delicious, Spicy.

With just two of the five words I learned, your experience in the country you visit becomes so much more vibrant. Here’s why:

You don’t need to be fluent in the language to make the locals smile, nor does anyone expect this. While a few simple words and expressions won’t allow you to have in-depth conversations, what they will let you do, is show respect and gratitude to the locals. You don’t need to be good. It’s all about effort.

Just by showing the locals that you take an interest in their language and customs, you’ll see that they interact with you more gleefully, and they’ll be more welcoming. It’s a simple equation; you spread the good vibes of respect and curiosity, and you get them back.

I understand that there may be some exceptions to this rule. Some more stuffy and snobbish folks might not approve of the way you ‘butcher’ their language, but nevermind, the majority in this world will.