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mazzilius_marsti@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

wait you dont actually need to know French or Danish? How’s the local perception of English speaking foreigners, i.e. is it offensive to respond in English if the waiters/locals ask in French?

Tbh the language barrier is 1 of the reasons holding me back. Havent tried for positions in France and Denmark yet, but for the ones I looked in Germany and Spain, you need to know German or Spanish. Even the job ads are in German/Spanish…

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PlutoniumAcid@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
If you’re in Denmark and speak English to anyone, nobody bats an eye. You’re welcome.

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juanito_the_great@sh.itjust.works ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
As a Spaniard and former researcher myself, in Spain you can also move without learning Spanish, just apply to the offers in English in Barcelona or Madrid. Those are the best positions anyway. You will struggle more than in Denmark for sure without it, but it’s just because a lot of people speak very little or very poorly. In the big cities it’s much better though.

Long term I’d advise you to keep looking in the north of Europe, Spain is likely to fuck researchers over again as they did in 2008.

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khannie@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Yeah he knew about ten words of Danish after over three years there before he moved to Germany. Even his lectures were in English which I was surprised at.

He has had to learn a little German but not that much and he’s there about 18 months now. The office he works in has folks from all over so they just use English.

Netherlands also in my experience basically everyone can speak perfect English.

I prefer to try to use a bit of the local language when I’m travelling myself as I find folks react well to the effort.

I’m terms of offence, it’s unlikely. I’d imagine tourists are common enough everywhere. I have reasonable French myself so I do try to use it when there so I can’t say for France specifically.

If you’ve any other questions I can pass them on to the young lad.

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Zerush@lemmy.ml ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago
Spain is a better choice, but in Germany are more people speaking English, on the other hand pretty right wing. But in academic circles it becomes irrelevant.

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