There isn’t really too much of a lanquage barrier within any of the major cities you listed. Naturally you’ll run into some people who don’t know english very well or some people who choose not to use english, however that being said, for the most part you’ll be fine.

If you end up wandering outside of the major cities, you’ll end up seeing a noticeable increase in the number of people who do not know english. But if you know some basic lanquage skils and can point, you’ll do just fine. I’ve been going to europe on average 4 times a year for the past 5 years and have both back packed (1 month) and lived in euroope (1 year in London), I’ve really never felt out of place.

Then again I didn’t try to stick out like a sore thumb either.

European girls love stoned Americans in Amsterdam.

Everywhere they walk, they are drawn to the obnoxious yelling and loud voices they produce.

Americans are treated like a different species in Europe. The language barrier is difficult, particularly since the formation of the EU. Europe is quite backwards and not many people even in the largest cities speak or understand English.

The best way to overcome such obstacles is to sew a Canadian flag onto your backpack and pretend to be mute and deaf. This usually elicits sympathy and the odd free drink. Good luck.

quote:
Americans are treated like a different species in Europe. The language barrier is difficult, particularly since the formation of the EU. Europe is quite backwards and not many people even in the largest cities speak or understand English.

The best way to overcome such obstacles is to sew a Canadian flag onto your backpack and pretend to be mute and deaf. This usually elicits sympathy and the odd free drink. Good luck.

hehe

So true!

It all depends how you go about it though. Be polite,try your best in French..no good, then ask if they speak english. Dont off the bat speak english, its very american to think that everyone already knows your language……young girls love american’s, i made sure i spoke up extra loud when they were around

quote:Dont off the bat speak english, its very american to think that everyone already knows your language

I wholeheartedly agree! Can you imagine encountering someone on the street in your U.S. town who immediately started speaking to you in Swahili?! Or even French or German.

If you’re in a country where English is not the official language, at the absolute minimum, learn how to say

1) please
2) thank you
3) yes
4) no
5) excuse me
6) hello
7) Do you speak English?

It shows that you respect you’re in another country and is, at the very least, polite. Also, you’ll probably be treated a lot better!

I’m living in the Netherlands. The most friends of my speaks a little to good english. My English is not so well, sorry for that.

A lot of people here in Germany do not speak English very well. Younger people are more likely to speak English than the older ones. In Amsterdam, I found that a decent amount of people spoke English. Most were more likely to speak English than German. I would say the biggest language barrier I’ve had was with road signs in the Netherlands. I agree with the others, don’t start out speaking in English.

The only country where there isn’t too much of a language barrier is Holland. In Paris always try a bit of French first, otherwise you could be considered very rude and treated rudely in return. The one phrase I can’t stress enough that you learn is:

"Can I please have a beer" Make sure you know how to say this in every country you’re in As people said in the big cities it isn’t too much of a problem (can be a problem at times however) but in the country you may be in trouble. I’ve always gotten by with a limited knowledge of French however.

One caveat to the above regarding French, and I have a Parisian born French girlfriend, If you don’t speak French with a decent level of proficiency, you might want to learn, the phrase "do you speak english" and then just switch to that.I guess I’m lucky, when anyone speaks to us, I just look at her to reply.

A

Tourists are tourists, no matter what the nationality. If you are in the tourist branch in any large tourist city or destination, you develop an ambivolent attitude toward tourists. Things are always better, more friendly and helpful, in the country-side even though the language barrier is bigger.