English Speaking in DR???

Brenda · #1 02-13-2002, 10:06 PM

I am happy to report that my recent trip to the Punta Cana region was good, however, my biggest problem was the language barrier.

We travel quite a bit, and have not had any problems with this until we went to Punta Cana at a very high class resort. The English Language was not used much, and we felt a lot like second class citizens, often being only tolerated and sometimes ignored because our first language is English.

I would recommend strongly, that the tourism department be aware of this and try to influence Spanish resorts to accommodate us Canadians (Americans) who speak only English.

OUR TOURIST DOLLARS ARE AS GOOD AS ANY ONE ELSE'S. We can see tourquoise waters, warmer even in places like Australia and Fiji, where I found no problems with what I'll call predjudice.

Please understand that I was not alone in this, as many of my fellow travellers complained to each other. Thought that someone should be made aware!! if tourism is going to be one of the country's biggest means of wealth.

Robert · #2 02-14-2002, 12:09 PM

I personally feel that you should adjust to the country your visiting, not the other way round. If I'm Dominican, only speak Spanish, visit a resort in the USA, I shouldn't expect the locals to accommodate me in my native language.

I have pretty much traveled all over this planet and have never expected the locals to adjust to my lack of language skills.

I have never been ignored and always get my point across.
Have fun with your language short comings and the locals will warm to you very quickly, especially here in the Dominican Republic.

Look on the bright side, you had the pleasure of taking a vacation in one of the most beautiful spots on this planet :-)

SteamySteve · #3 02-14-2002, 12:21 PM

I agree 110% w/Rob.......couldnt have put it any better. I recently returned from beautiful Punta Cana and found the language barrier a little difficult @ times....HOWEVER I understand that I am in there country and Spanish is there offical language! When you are in their Country u speak their language...just the same goes here in the States.....when you are here in the States you expect everyone to speak our native language...English. If you want to go to the beach and have all Americans and English speaking people than there is a great place called Flordia that will suit u just fine. Just my .02

jjsk · #4 02-14-2002, 12:25 PM

Why do you bother travelling to a foreign country if you want it to be just like at home?
A good phrasebook, a sense of humour, and a kind disposition will go a long way anywhere. Maybe they were reacting to your attitude, not your lack of Spanish.
Maybe you should just travel in English-speaking countries.
_{Did they really make the extra effort in Australia to learn English so they could converse with the Canadian tourists? Wow, that really amazing that they would do that, I'm quite impressed, they must be the masters of accomodating tourists down there....}

Escott · #5 02-14-2002, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brenda
I am happy to report that my recent trip to the Punta Cana region was good, however, my biggest problem was the language barrier.

We travel quite a bit, and have not had any problems with this until we went to Punta Cana at a very high class resort. The English Language was not used much, and we felt a lot like second class citizens, often being only tolerated and sometimes ignored because our first language is English.

Were there mostly Americans in this resort?

Janice says that Americans make up the largest segment of tourists to the DR. I havent been to Punta Cana and was curious about that.

Regards,
Scott

Janice · #6 02-14-2002, 01:01 PM

"Were there mostly Americans in this resort?

Janice says that Americans make up the largest segment of tourists to the DR. I haven't been to Punta Cana and was curious about that.

Regards,
Scott

AGAIN you make a feeble attempt at sustaining your flawed supposition by changing the question. I said DR1 reported that US Citizens make up the single largest group, not the largest segment. If one was to follow your poorly contrived statement, you would have to look for 51% Americans, not the 25% reported by the Central Bank and DR1

Scott, on a board such as this you can go on forever citing YOUR false assumptions, YOUR personal experiences with 95% of the people on a plane being non American and never having to back up one statement, it's endless and a waste of time

You once stated you provided "evidence" by way of hotel statistics, that was simply a posting by you with no references, you cite a website that is 4 years old and well known to use whatever tactic necessary to garner business, even stating that DR banks do not report any transaction to the US Govt et al.

With the undoubted result of insulting the "Fat ugly American," I can only say I am tired of responding to your childish remarks that have no substance, so believe as you wish, it hardly affects myself or anyone else, it only furthers your ego to "get the last word", so please go for it, I wait with unbridled enthusiasm you further laughable assumptions and posturing

Janice

BushBaby · #7 02-14-2002, 01:13 PM

I was MOST surprised to read of the lack of English spoken in Punta Cana - MOST Dominicans that work in the tourism industry speak 5 or 6 languages almost fluently, certainly up here on the North Coast they do. I am constantly amazed at how quickly Dominicans can pick up a language (5 or 6 months will get them a very good working knowledge of a new language).

If this IS the case in Punta Cana, perhaps you should address the problem with your tour operator &/or travel agent who are the ones who advised you on where to go for your holiday. Perhaps THEY should be persuaded to check out the hotels more thoroughly & check your requirements against the facilities offed. Once tourists start being transferred to other hotles, the management will get the message & soon train their staff into the pleasures of additional languages!!

I occasionally return to Britain for short holidays (the shorter the better) & have tremendous fun talking Spanish, German or French to hotel staff, shop keepers & taxi drivers - RARELY do I find one who has the slightest knowledge of what I am saying "Sorry mate, don't speak the lingo"!!!! Hey, most of them have learnt to aclammatise to the bastardisation of the English language by Americans, Canadians & Austrailians, but that is about it. Otherwise it is the "Good Ole Queens English (with variable dialects of course)".

Your point is taken, but have a go at the people who carry the weight - The Tour Companies. Blame them for sending you somewhere where you couldn't communicate & ask them to refund you some of your money!! - Grahame.

BushBaby · #8 02-14-2002, 01:18 PM

I was MOST surprised to read of the lack of English spoken in Punta Cana - MOST Dominicans that work in the tourism industry speak 5 or 6 languages almost fluently, certainly up here on the North Coast they do. I am constantly amazed at how quickly Dominicans can pick up a language (5 or 6 months will get them a very good working knowledge of a new language).

If this IS the case in Punta Cana, perhaps you should address the problem with your tour operator &/or travel agent who are the ones who advised you on where to go for your holiday. Perhaps THEY should be persuaded to check out the hotels more thoroughly & check your requirements against the facilities offed. Once tourists start being transferred to other hotles, the management will get the message & soon train their staff into the pleasures of additional languages!!

I occasionally return to Britain for short holidays (the shorter the better) & have tremendous fun talking Spanish, German or French to hotel staff, shop keepers & taxi drivers - RARELY do I find one who has the slightest knowledge of what I am saying "Sorry mate, don't speak the lingo"!!!! Hey, most of them have learnt to aclammatise to the bastardisation of the English language by Americans, Canadians & Austrailians, but that is about it. Otherwise it is the "Good Ole Queens English (with variable dialects of course)".

Your point is taken, but have a go at the people who carry the weight - The Tour Companies. Blame them for sending you somewhere where you couldn't communicate & ask them to refund you some of your money!! - Grahame.

Hillbilly · #9 02-14-2002, 01:41 PM

Brenda: it is my fault that you are getting this flack. I saw your post on another thread entirely, and requested that, because of you well intentioned commentary, it should have a thread of your own.

I think you might have not made your point, or I am reading too much into your commentary.

Was your comment made because you, as an English speaker, were made uncomfortable by the hotel staff, or the people that were staying at the hotel? Were the staff, unpleasant or un attentive? if so, then a letter to the owners is in order.

For some reason i get the impression that it was the other people, the other guests that didn't pay you much mind, since they were Italian or Spanish or German...Was this the case?

Thank you for your input, no matter, it was interesting...

Cordially,

HB

Ken · #10 02-14-2002, 01:54 PM

Hillbilly raises a good question. I was wondering the same.

If you are saying that the staff made no effort to communicate with you in English, this would surprise me. It would also indicate that the hotel where you stayed has a problem.

It has been my experience that many hotel employees speak at least some English, and understand even more. It has also been my experience that most hotels make every effort to help guests to enjoy their stay because they want both your return business as well as a favorable recommendation to your friends.

Obviously the hotel you visited isn't going to get either, especially not if it was the staff that made you feel uncomfortable.

If the problem was that the other guests were excluding you because you didn't speak another language, such as German, that is a different problem. If that is the problem, then before your next visit you might inquire as to the nationality of the majority of guests. If you learn that a majority are from a country that speaks other than English, you might consider a different hotel. (Some hotels reserve many of their rooms for clients of tour companies from contries such as Germany.)