Could You Handle a Social Event in a Second Language? (Part II)

The Funeral

It is even more important to know what to say if you go to a funeral in a place where your native tongue isn’t spoken. Can you imagine how embarrassing it would be if you made a big mistake when offering your condolences to the bereaved family? These aren’t really occasions for doing a lot of talking, although I am told that the party / wake afterwards can get boisterous in some parts of the world, while they are mournful affairs in others. Russian funerals and wakes, for example, are typically filled with lots of traditions and superstitions you would do well to learn. After Russian lessons London students can go online to do some research on the subject in the language they are learning.

The Kid’s Party

Anyone who has a young child knows that kid’s parties can be stressful affairs but what if you can’t understand what the little ones are saying? Children can be hard to understand in your second language. I should know; I once sat through an entire party in which the only person I understood was the clown. If you study with Listen & Learn your teacher won’t be a toddler but they can make you a lot more comfortable with listening to anyone speak to you in your new language.

The Unidentified Event

Things get even worse when you don’t know what exactly is being celebrated. This happened to me once. I was on the bus home when a couple of locals I knew grabbed me and took me to a social club type of place. I had no idea what was going on and to be honest I still don’t know what it was all about. It involved some sort of beauty pageant and then some form of political debate. I restricted myself to drinking and occasionally nodding wisely. I reckon no one realised that I was completely lost. With the right Portuguese courses London learners will feel good and will never be as lost as I was that time.