There tend to be many stereotypes that go along with communication with foreigners in the United States. Unfortunately, many people are unwilling to meet those who don’t speak English where they are. We have this perspective that if someone crosses the border into the U.S. they are automatically undeserving of any courtesy. Or worse, we treat them as though they are stupid simply because they don’t communicate exactly as we do. This ignorance causes people to condescendingly speak slowly or louder (like they can understand the same foreign words just because the volume was increased), or some of us simply just don’t speak at all.
I was once afraid of speaking Spanish because I feared sounding like someone who randomly threw out Spanish words in condescension. However, spending this past week in Costa Rica has taught me a great lesson.
Being in a foreign country is frightening for many reasons. It is intimidating being a minority in a culture you don’t know, attempting to understand directions you can’t read in a language that you can’t speak. Just ordering ice cream becomes a huge undertaking. You don’t know how the money exchange works, and when you ask for help, you basically have to mix Spanish and English (if you can) and talk a lot with your hands.
What I learned is this: it’s simply wonderful to find someone who knows some of your language, even if it’s only a few words. It’s overwhelming being in a place not made for you, so when you find people willing to help it is so comforting. Even further, it is so sweet and so kind when people use the broken English they do know to include you in conversations or church services and try to help you understand. How incredibly loving and courteous. They don’t know much of my language, but they used it when they could.
I now look at communication so differently. It isn’t rude to try and speak what I know of a foreign language to help a person communicate in my country. Being away from home is a scary experience. Immigrating when you don’t know the language of the country takes courage. These people are not an inconvenience and should not be spoken about negatively, rather they should be celebrated. There is much we can do to help foreigners adjust. There is more kindness to be shown. It is critical to help non-English speakers understand the language. Unless we help, how can they learn?
Whether we speak English or another language, language is something we have to work at. It’s our tool for communicating with others. It’s our primary contributor to the beauty of the human experience. We must use this to help people grow and understand, not to persecute or belittle. Reach out when you can. Be brave enough to use the languages you know to show love to those different than you. Love transcends all language barriers.
