One thing Morocco revealed is cross-cultural bridges cannot be built if messages are lost in or stopped by a lack of translation.
Language skills and adaptability are keys for international work, and our country cannot expect to make too great of progress on the global stage by expecting others to know English.
The children of Morocco are fluent in Arabic and French, and those who attend schools also learn English or Spanish in addition. Older generations also speak the first two languages, and also know some or a lot of English or Spanish or Italian.
As a group of American travelers, we were quickly embarrassed of our lack of language skills as we tried to communicate with people in lectures and discussions.
Since I was titled the French translator for our group (even though my French is out of practice and struggles), I especially felt the challenge of sharing messages between people when there is no way to effectively communicate.
The hardest day was when we hiked in the Ifrane National Park outside of Azrou. We had a personal guide for the trek who specialized in the flora and fauna of the park. Morocco is home to over 100 medicinal plants, most of which grow in the Ifrane. He could not speak English, so I attempted to translate basic science and nature terms in French that were much out of my league. (He is the man shown in the picture above.)
As a person who breathes communication and values the effects it can have when done well, I have never felt so barred and helpless in connecting people who so desperately want to interact and discuss but can’t due to the language barrier, not only on the hike but on a daily basis in Morocco. It was the most humbling and inspiring aspect of my trip so far.
Even though I was quietly excited on the way to Turkey to no longer be in a country where I was responsible for the translating, I am determined to practice fluency in French before and after graduation.
The best way would be through immersion (one reason to return to Morocco or Guadeloupe, what a perk), and I find it a responsibility to embrace if I ever want to consider myself ready for international work.
Language skills and adaptability are keys for international work, and our country cannot expect to make too great of progress on the global stage by expecting others to know English.
The children of Morocco are fluent in Arabic and French, and those who attend schools also learn English or Spanish in addition. Older generations also speak the first two languages, and also know some or a lot of English or Spanish or Italian.
As a group of American travelers, we were quickly embarrassed of our lack of language skills as we tried to communicate with people in lectures and discussions.
Since I was titled the French translator for our group (even though my French is out of practice and struggles), I especially felt the challenge of sharing messages between people when there is no way to effectively communicate.
The hardest day was when we hiked in the Ifrane National Park outside of Azrou. We had a personal guide for the trek who specialized in the flora and fauna of the park. Morocco is home to over 100 medicinal plants, most of which grow in the Ifrane. He could not speak English, so I attempted to translate basic science and nature terms in French that were much out of my league. (He is the man shown in the picture above.)
As a person who breathes communication and values the effects it can have when done well, I have never felt so barred and helpless in connecting people who so desperately want to interact and discuss but can’t due to the language barrier, not only on the hike but on a daily basis in Morocco. It was the most humbling and inspiring aspect of my trip so far.
Even though I was quietly excited on the way to Turkey to no longer be in a country where I was responsible for the translating, I am determined to practice fluency in French before and after graduation.
The best way would be through immersion (one reason to return to Morocco or Guadeloupe, what a perk), and I find it a responsibility to embrace if I ever want to consider myself ready for international work.
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