Language confusion for Brits abroad

Over half of British holidaymakers would not be able to ask for directions in a foreign language if they were to get lost, new research has revealed.

With Spain being one of the most popular holiday destinations in the world, the firm behind the survey, language software provider Rosetta Stone, expressed surprise that 87 per cent of travellers do not know how to ask for directions in Spanish.

However, 40 per cent of respondents said they would be able to do so in French - but about 50 per cent of these would not be able to follow the directions they were given, the YouGov poll found.

Rosetta Stone managing director Steven Wines noted that travel to regions where there are relatively fewer English speakers than elsewhere - South America, Asia and Africa - is currently on the rise.

"Locals in these regions are less likely to speak English, so it is important to learn the basic language skills, at the very least," he commented.

Some of the most common foreign language lessons offered in UK schools include French, German and Spanish.

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