English-speaking tourists suffer two nearly universal illusions. The first is that "they all speak English" in the destination, followed by "it's not worth studying the language" because the stay will be short. Let's take a moment to wish these myths bon voyage.
To begin with, unless you're going to an English-speaking nation, they don't all speak English. It's remarkable how doggedly anglophones cling to this ratty security blanket. Some insist that in Country X, English is required in school. This is usually hokum. Even the few countries that do, don't produce an English-fluent majority. Most citizens of such nations "studied English in school." In other words, their English is figurative at best, as any tourist who's ever battled with alleged "English" on foreign signs can attest. An understanding of the local language greatly enhances a tourist's ability to function.
Fluency is not required for short stays, to be sure, though it is a terrific plus. The most important linguistic tools for tourists are vocabulary and pronunciation. Textbooks and dictionaries can help with the first, language-for-travellers courses improve the second. Correct pronunciation is crucial. Whereas bad grammar correctly pronounced is largely understandable, grammatically-correct but murdered speech is often totally unintelligible. A reading knowledge is also important, as most of the language that tourists encounter is written. Those visiting societies that don't use Roman characters should learn as much of the local writing system as possible. Sounding out street signs is infinitely preferable to wandering around asking passersby, "Do you speak English?"
Even for stays of just a weekend, a concerted effort to learn the language pays off big. I once had a one-day layover in Denmark, a nation where, according to rumour, "they all speak English." Turns out it's rubbish; hardly anyone I met in the street could function in English. But in twenty-four hours I learned enough Danish to say please and thank you, make simple inquiries, and decode basic written instructions. As a result I feel I lived in Copenhagen for a day, instead of just killing time. In fact, I had a ball. Plunging into the language turned a mild annoyance into a highlight of my trip.
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