Whether interns are exploring the museums in Berlin, picking up marketing skills in Shanghai, boosting their entrepreneurship skills in Colombia, learning about the business world in Hong Kong or soaking in Madrid’s freethinking, bohemian culture, these useful phrases will come in handy. Newcomers to any city have to prepare for basic interactions with locals. Languages can be tricky to pick up, so you have to start somewhere: this list. With some practice on the plane or back home and commitment to engage in the new language once you arrive, you’ll quickly become comfortable speaking and listening to these new languages as you travel and do your internship abroad.
(How else would you start a conversation?)
(Because I do!)
(To master that shopping game ASAP.)
(Because I definitely didn’t understand you the first time!)
(Making international friends is fun!)
(And I’m kind of freaking out.)
(Because everyone needs to find their way home.)
(Insert sheepish grin here.)
(P’s and Q’s… we need them in all countries.)
Sources: http://www.fodors.com/language/german/basic-phrases/, http://www.fodors.com/language/chinese/basic-phrases/, http://www.tour-beijing.com/beijing_travel/Chinese_Phrases_for_travelers.php#.WDcEAZJ11go, http://www.oncallinternational.com/blog/before-you-travel-key-phrases-to-learn-in-the-local-language/
Photos
1. based on London Town, by August Brill, CC-by-2.0
2. based on Madrid, by Surreal Name Given, CC-by-2.0
3. based on A Night in Hong Kong #2, by aotaro, CC-by-2.0