LANGUAGE | POLISH

Making a Sincere Effort to Speak in the Local Language? There’s A Problem

Your sincerity may be construed differently altogether. I made mistakes and learned a lesson recently in Poland.

[Photo: ©Vickey Maverick.]

Inscribed in the photograph above are the Polish words Ucieknij od zgiełku miasta, which translates as “escaping the hustle and bustle of the city.” It is probably something we all want to do, but also something that is not practically possible. Being a pragmatic individual, I have, for the better part of the last two decades, devised a way to ensure a regular change of setting.

Travel is my preferred escape route, and in my case, it is two-fold. For starters, I have to undertake work-related travel every once in a while. Additionally, during a given year, there are compulsory leaves that beg to be utilized. They dream of new destinations. To satisfy wanderlust, travel is a must. Having a like-minded partner helps considerably to this end.

Most importantly, frequent travel helps me to improve my language skills. While it is not humanly possible to be fluent in every language, travel ensures my basic understanding of certain languages gets better with every subsequent visit. Not to forget, there is no better way to interact with…