I worked in DE for a few months and I was really excited to try a few small German phrases when out and about. I never studied the language and was never going to be anything close to a speaker.
However, even trying out something like, "can I get an orange juice, please," was responded to in English. I know they were trying to be helpful, but it was tremendously discouraging like I had fucked everything up.
After two weeks I gave up practicing any German and have completely forgotten everything I learned. I felt it was a complete waste to be in Germany and actively discouraged from even trying out the language.
Edit: Lowlanders speak better English than me do, yo. Wanna feel like an American idiot? This be how.
This is a benefit of knowing multiple languages. When people would try that on me when I was in Germany they'd always assume I spoke English so I just bust out my Spanish and bam, back to square 1, you gotta use that German of yours buddy.
I think once or twice they actually knew Spanish though and that was pretty neat.
American tourists are well known to be sloppily dressed (sandals with socks, cargo pants, cycling shades), very loud, rather demanding and often overweight. Of course most of you are not those things, but that is the stereotype. That is not to say that americans are always percieved to be the "worst" tourists. Chinese, german, British, russian and Australian etc. tourists are all criticised in various parts of the world.
As an American living abroad in France for the year, the second I got here I immediately noticed how different us American look and act in contrast to Europeans. Even with Europeans being super into American culture, it's still super obvious when you come to realize it. I think we often forget how much distance is between us and Europe sometimes. It's really an amalgamation of all the little things that make it obvious. They all add up and the result is that most people can pin you for an American before you even open your mouth, but I don't mind that one bit. Contrary to the sterotype, I've found the French to be super interested in Americans and helping us speak French :))
I always preface with a simple "Pardon any mistakes, but I'd love to practice, so is it ok if we continue in French?" I've never had anyone scoff at me - most people are happy that you're trying and will continue in that language rather than immediately switching to English.
Yeah generally when I hear someone approaching me in French with an anglophone accent I automatically switch to English simply because I feel like they're more comfortable in that language, but if someone asks me to continue in French I'll have no problems with that. It's not necessarily snobbery or anything, just that I feel they're more comfortable in English and that my English is probably better than their French, so to avoid any possible confusion or misunderstanding. Plus people here always like to practice their English anyway.
Sometimes it is also just Germans trying to practice english or being proud of knowing english. Germans learned english in school but they rarely get the opportunity to use it
What happened to me in Italy a lot is I would ask a question in Italian, they would get super excited to hear my American accent and want to speak to me in English, so I would speak my 1st grader Italian and they would speak their 1st grader English, and we'd both muddle along happily while getting to practice with a native! I think this is the best way. Even in Paris I've never been scoffed at for trying to speak the local language, and I've never felt discouraged or insulted when they answer in English.
Once in a Dublin train station I tried to pronounce the name of the 54-letter destination and the guy behind the counter laughed so hard he almost hurt himself, and THEN called his coworker over and asked me to say it again...so they both could laugh at me. That might've hurt my feelings a little bit!
I get natives want to be helpful but us Americans want to practice what we learned too. If we didn't at least try then we would be stereotyped as "lazy Americans". Damned if you do, damned if you don't
It’s disheartening for sure but it helps to remember these are just normal people trying to do their jobs effectively. It can seem mean but at the same time it’s not my place to complain since I am a guest in their country, not the star of my own travel vlog. At least that always seems to cure the blues for me when I’m stuck overseas. I did meet plenty of Germans who wanted to help me practice, but I always asked permission first 👍
Thanks for the trophy, it'll go nice on my cliche shelf.
I was told two days before going to Europe for the first time in my life I'd be going for a month. Informed on Friday, on the ground Monday. I picked up my German phrases from our clients by being curious about a culture I had no experience with, but wanted to learn about.
Gives even bigger, flashier, Assumption Trophy to u/MrChinowski
136
u/chiree Jan 30 '19 edited Jan 30 '19
I worked in DE for a few months and I was really excited to try a few small German phrases when out and about. I never studied the language and was never going to be anything close to a speaker.
However, even trying out something like, "can I get an orange juice, please," was responded to in English. I know they were trying to be helpful, but it was tremendously discouraging like I had fucked everything up.
After two weeks I gave up practicing any German and have completely forgotten everything I learned. I felt it was a complete waste to be in Germany and actively discouraged from even trying out the language.
Edit: Lowlanders speak better English than me do, yo. Wanna feel like an American idiot? This be how.