3.2.3 Ways to overcome the language barrier

From the above analysis you should already have realized the strong connection between language and culture. In fact, speaking a foreign language is all about communicating with people and learning about foreign cultures. Knowing a language is a lot more than knowing a couple of words out of a dictionary.
Despite the importance and benefits of speaking foreign languages and communicating with foreigners, in many cases the language barrier is still challenging and one of the most common challenges faced by refugees and local students. The best-known way to overcome the language barrier in a quick and effective way is to enlist the aid of an interpreter. However, interpreters are usually available only to NGOs, international organizations and public bodies. Therefore, domestic students who wish to communicate with refugees who do not speak their mother tongue have to find alternatives in order to overcome the language barrier.
An effective, fun and free way to practice a language and break down the language barrier is the so-called tandem programmes. Usually tandem programmes consist of a partnership between two people with different native languages who work together in order to learn each other’s language, learn more about each other’s culture, and exchange additional information, such as information about each other’s professional life. Ideally, each learner should be a native speaker of the language the other person wants to learn. It is a communicative as well as an intercultural approach, as it gives both learners the opportunity to gain more insight into each other’s cultural background through direct communication. Two examples of tandem initiatives carried out by volunteers in universities are the Café Asyl at the University of Kaiserslautern and the Language Café at the Humboldt University of Berlin.
Either as a learner of a spoken language or a speaker of your native tongue, or as the speaker of a language other than your own to communicate with a refugee, the main thing you should bear in mind is that the use of plain language is a key element in overcoming the language barrier. Body language is an international non-verbal communication tool that can always be a funny and quick way of explaining what you want when the other person does not understand. A translation service that meets your needs and is always available on your smartphone, such as Google Translate, should also be considered. In addition, a key to bridging the language gap is to speak slowly, giving yourself and the speaker a chance to comprehend what is being said. Another aspect of communication barriers are gestures: every country has different gestures that are considered inappropriate, so bear that in mind when trying to communicate and, if possible, avoid them. Sometimes communication is frustrating even when we speak in our native tongue so it can be helpful to use visuals, since it can make a difference when it comes to understanding a sentence or a phrase.