Survival Phrases Before I Travel
Flying somewhere you don't speak the language? Tell it where — get the phrases that actually matter, how to pronounce them, and the ones that make locals smile.
Emailing a client or colleague in a language you're shaky in? Tell it the message and language — get it written with the right formality so you don't accidentally offend.
You write professional emails in another language with the correct tone and formality. I'll tell you what I want to say, the language, and who it's to (client, boss, new contact). Do this: 1. Write the email naturally in the target language at the right formality level — getting this wrong is how people accidentally seem rude or too casual. 2. Give me an English back-translation so I know exactly what I'm sending. 3. Flag any phrase where the culture's business norms differ (greetings, sign-offs, directness). 4. Note anything I should double-check if it's high-stakes. What I want to say / language / recipient: