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THE LANGUAGE BARRIER
FROM MY EXPERIENCES, I HAVE GREAT RESPECT FOR ALL THE CHINESE PEOPLE I'VE MET IN MY TRAVELS. THEY HAVE ALL BEEN VERY POLITE, RESPECTFUL AND HELPFUL TO ME.
THERE IS ONE PROBLEM I ENCOUNTERED, THAT IS - IN THE PLACES I VISITED- NOT THAT MANY PEOPLE SPOKE ENGLISH. EVEN IN THE HOTELS I HAVE STAYED AT - THE PEOPLE WHO SPOKE FLUENT ENGLISH HAVE BEEN FEW AND FAR BETWEEN. THE ONLY EXCEPTION IS IN HONG KONG WHERE MOST PEOPLE SPEAK CHINESE AND ENGLISH.
THERE ARE WAYS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM. ONE IS TO BUY A TRANSLATOR MACHINE. IT AUTOMATICALLY TRANSLATES ENGLISH INTO CHINESE AND VICE-VERSA. IT IS THE SIZE OF A LARGE CALCULATOR AND IS REASONABLE PRICED.
ANOTHER SOLUTION IS TO HIRE AN ENGLISH SPEAKING GUIDE ON YOUR TRAVELS IF YOU CAN AFFORD ONE. I DID THIS ON SEEING MY LADY IN HANDAN .OUR GUIDE MADE OUR COMMUNICATION WONDERFULLY EASY.
THERE IS A CHINESE LANGUAGE COURSE WHICH I HIGHLY RECOMMEND - TO LEARN THE FUNDAMENTALS OF BASIC CONVERSATIONAL CHINESE -IT IS CALLED ROCKET CHINESE. LEARNING CHINESE WAS NEVER SO EASY OR SO MUCH FUN.
THE LINK IS LISTED BELOW.
FOR MY TRAVELS OUTSIDE CHINA-CLICK MY BLOG - http://rob-asia.blogspot.com/
