7 Reasons Moving To A Non-English-Speaking Country Is Easier Than You Think!

Everything You Think About Language Barriers Is a Lie

If not speaking the language is your excuse for not moving abroad, scrap it. 

It’s useless. 

I’ve moved to Ukraine, France, Georgia, Albania and beyond. Some with barely enough local words to order a beer, and I survived. Even thrived.

In Ukraine, I arrived in 1999 knowing three Russian words, yet I still managed to haggle with babushkas and dodge mayonnaise-covered disasters.

In France, I thought my college French would be my golden ticket, until I realized Parisian bakers don’t care how well you pronounce “croissant,” just how fast you order and leave.

The myth of the “language barrier” is nonsense.

People picture themselves stuck in an endless game of charades, but the reality? 

Most of the world is built to accommodate foreigners who don’t speak the language.

I’ve seen people obsess over Duolingo for months, only to realize 90% of it is useless in real life, while others land with zero prep and still find jobs, homes, and relationships.

So if you’re holding yourself back because you don’t speak the language, you’re making excuses. 

Keep reading, I’m about to prove you wrong.

1. You Need Less Language Than You Think… A Lot Less

People have this idea that if they move to a non-English-speaking country, they need to arrive like some linguistic warrior, fluent and ready to debate politics with the locals over coffee.

Let me tell you right now, that’s nonsense. 

You don’t need fluency.

You don’t even need competency.

You need the bare minimum.

When I moved to Ukraine in 1998, my Russian vocabulary consisted of “hello,” “thank you,” and “beer.” That was it.

And yet, I still managed to find an apartment, buy groceries, make friends, and navigate a completely foreign city.

Sure, there were some rough moments, like the time I confidently ordered what I thought was a chicken dish and ended up with something resembling a jellied fish coffin (holodets, I’m looking at you).

But for the most part? I got by.

The secret? You only need about 100–200 essential words to survive.

Learn how to say yes, no, how much, where is, toilet, thank you, and a few numbers, and you’ll be fine.

Most daily interactions are predictable: buying food, getting directions, ordering coffee, and you don’t need a deep vocabulary for those.

The truth is, most locals don’t expect you to be fluent. 

In fact, they’re usually amused (or mildly horrified) by your attempts.

But if you’re willing to point, gesture, and butcher their language with confidence, you’ll be just fine.

2. Your Smartphone Is Your Best Travel Buddy

Back in 1999, there was no Google Translate app, no DeepL, no real-time speech recognition.

You either learned some local phrases or ended up accidentally ordering something with pickled herring in it.

Now?

Technology has completely removed the need to panic about language barriers.

Apps like Google Translate and DeepL can turn you into a functional local in seconds.

I’ve used Google Lens to translate entire menus in Albania, decipher grocery labels and even scan street signs in Georgia.

Then there’s navigation.

When I first moved abroad, I had to memorize landmarks and pray I didn’t end up in some abandoned Soviet factory.

Now, with Google Maps, you can literally walk around a city where you don’t know a single word and still find your way home.

• Ordering food? Point, scan, and nod.
• Need directions? Hand your phone to a local and let the app talk for you.

There’s really no excuse anymore.

If you can work a smartphone, you can survive anywhere.

3. Reading the Room Is More Important Than Reading the Dictionary

You know what’s better than speaking a foreign language? Knowing when to shut up and read the room.

Cultural adaptation isn’t about words. It’s about understanding people.

I learned this the hard way in Ukraine, where I casually asked a friend’s boyfriend what he did for a living.

Seems harmless, right? Wrong. 

His answer?

A cold, dead stare followed by, ”None of your business.”

Turns out, in post-Soviet countries at the time (1999), asking someone about their job wasn’t just small talk, it was borderline interrogation.

Meanwhile, in France, you better say “Bonjour” when entering an establishment before anything else or expect instant customer service hostility.

Even if you’re saying it to no one in particular or in the air.

And let’s not even get into how staring at strangers on public transport is a crime against humanity in most of Europe.

Bottom line? 

Your survival abroad isn’t about perfect grammar, it’s about blending in.

Watch how locals interact. 

See how much eye contact they use, how close they stand, whether they gesture a lot or barely move their faces. 

Copy that, and you’re already ahead of most clueless tourists.

4. Expats & Locals Will Bridge the Gap for You

Here’s the secret most people don’t realize: you are never truly alone in any country.

Every major city has an expat community.

There are English-speaking meetups, international bars, and people who’ve been in your shoes and are more than happy to help.

In Tbilisi, I met an entire crew of expats who didn’t speak a word of Georgian but had been living there for years.

Then there are locals who WANT to practice their English.

In Spain, random strangers would start chatting with me just because they wanted to test their English skills.

In France, I had people switch from French to English the moment they realized I wasn’t fluent, without me even asking.

It’s actually frustrating and feels a little condescending to someone trying to improve their French… 

You’re not an island.

There are always people willing to help, you just have to show up.

5. You Can Work & Live in English More Than You Think

People assume they need to learn a language fluently before they can get a job abroad.

Not true.

I’ve worked as an English teacher, an examiner, and in freelance writing without ever needing fluency in the local language.

Many international companies, embassies, and remote jobs function entirely in English.

Even local jobs that might require some language skills are often way more forgiving than you think.

In Ukraine as an English teacher, I was actually discouraged from using the local language all together since they wanted to provide an English only, immersive environment for their students.

If you can speak English and have a skill, you can find work.

Online or Offline.

Period.

6. The Unexpected Perks of NOT Speaking the Language

You know what’s great about not understanding the local language? 

Blissful ignorance.

1. You don’t have to get sucked into local political debates.
2. You don’t have to listen to annoying gossip at the café.
3. You can walk through life completely unaware of passive-aggressive remarks being thrown in your direction.

It’s liberating.

And sometimes, not knowing what’s going on works in your favor.

In Kyiv, I once accidentally crashed a wedding reception, thinking it was just a restaurant event.

Instead of kicking me out, they welcomed me in because they assumed I was a confused foreigner who had somehow been invited.

Ignorance? Sometimes, it’s golden.

7. The Easiest Way to Learn a Language (If You Want To)

Alright, so let’s say you DO want to learn the language eventually.

What’s the best way?

• Talk to people. No app, no book, no online course will ever teach you as fast as getting out there and struggling through real conversations.
• Get a local hobby. Join a gym, a dance class, or even a local hiking group. The more you integrate, the faster you’ll pick things up.
• Date a local. It’s the oldest language-learning trick in the book. Want to learn fast? Fall in love with someone who doesn’t speak your language.

If you immerse yourself, you’ll pick up more in three months than most people do in three years of language classes.

Why Fear of the Language Barrier Shouldn’t Stop You

At this point, if you’re still thinking, “But I don’t speak the language…” stop. That excuse is officially dead.

People have been moving to new countries for centuries without fluency, and they survived just fine.

The modern world makes it easier than ever.

You have technology, expat communities, English-friendly workplaces, and endless resources at your disposal.

The only real barrier? Your own fear.

• So, what’s stopping you?
• Have you ever moved somewhere without speaking the language?
• What’s your best (or worst) language mishap?