Traveling to a non English-speaking region can be challenging and trip-altering if you don’t know the language or aren’t prepared for the language barrier.  Planning ahead using foreign language resources may reduce stress and enhance the overall success of your getaway.

A few years ago I spent two nights in a newly constructed inn in a small town in the Charlevoix region of Québec.  The modest apartments were in a refurbished horse stable behind the main house which was across the street from a monastery.  Serenity at last?  Well…every morning a distant rooster crowed regally at 4:30 a.m.  But the lodging was perfect and the days were quiet and relaxing with a good amount of time spent exploring the diverse surrounding countryside and the pristine communities along the Saint Lawrence River.

The owners of the inn were a married couple who spoke very little English.  Since I can speak and recognize only a few French words, having a French-English dictionary and memorizing basic phrases in French before arriving led to slightly improved communication, and I think the couple appreciated the efforts to speak their language.  But we did resort to something similar to charades when I inquired about the procedure for requesting fresh towels.
 
Similarly, choosing dinner in non-touristy restaurants in Paris sans our bilingual host was difficult at times and a portable phrase book was often used to interpret parts of the menu.  At the very least, I prefer to know if my entrée is something other than vegetarian—veal marrow served in its bisected bone with butter and salt is definitely not for me.  Learning a few simple words was also helpful when purchasing train tickets in Chartres and shopping in the local markets.

If you plan to travel to a region where English is not the primary language or will venture into communities where your language is rarely spoken, you may want to check out the library’s collection of phrase books, bilingual dictionaries, or instructional tapes/CDs.  Languages include Spanish, Japanese, Thai, German and others.  There are phrase books in the travel neighborhood and on the shelves in the Adult West Wing in the 400s categorized by language.  For example, the French phrase books are in the 448s, Spanish books are in the 468s.

Search Tips

To find phrase books using the library catalog, use the basic search mode and conduct a subject keyword search for French language phrase books.  For other languages, use the example above and substitute the language you’re interested in for the word “French.”  

For bilingual dictionaries, use the basic search mode and conduct a subject keyword search for Spanish language dictionaries.  Go to the top right corner to limit by adult nonfiction.

For foreign language instructional materials on CD or cassette, use the basic search mode and conduct a subject keyword search for Spanish language.  Go to the top right corner to limit by audiobooks CD or audiobook cassettes.

Or, you may ask a librarian and we will help you find what you need.

¡Buen viaje!