如果能在机场免费练英语该多好？
前不久在香港转机，突然有了一个想法，用英文记录下，和各位分享。
Lingua Franca
Lost your tongue?
Language exchange zones should be set up in international airports to encourage communication between the bored (and the curious)
Walk around within any international airport, and you will see money exchange kiosks galore. You will perhaps notice, too, jet-lagged globetrotters sitting idly on the bench, rangy backpackers looking aimlessly around, disoriented first-timers hopping from one souvenir shop to the next, and package tour members ambling along the treadmill. To kill time, they all ultimately fall back on, whether they like it or not, their smartphones. The experience is all too familiar, and travelers seem to have no compelling alternative. Yet, when I had a layover in Hong Kong two weeks ago, a better way to while away long waiting hours started to emerge in my mind.
Language exchange zones can be a delightful addition to international airports. The imaginary spaces are designated zones (preferably in the shape of a circle) in airports (ideally located near boarding gates) to accommodate six to eight people (from beginners to near-native speakers) to practice foreign languages. Indeed, this sounds like a conventional English corner or German Kaffeeklatsch, but the difference is evident. Airports are where native speakers show up and where travelers have the greatest desire to pick up the ABCs of an outlandish language.
Designation matters. It is true that people who wish to practice a language can simply ask their neighbors anyway. But it is not always easy to tell a Japanese from a Javanese by appearance. More troubling, it is hard to start conversations with strangers without feeling a little awkward. With designated zones, mingling becomes less stressful: by stepping into the zone you instantly give others the permission to say hi to you.
Equally important is the location for language exchange zones--the boarding gate. This is where the bored gather and wait for the last half an hour or so before they are called to board. The default language is the vernacular of the destination. If, for instance, the next flight is from Hong Kong to Los Angeles, then the default language until the boarding time is English. Similarly, a screen showing a Bangkok-bound flight invites passengers to speak better Thai. Simply by checking the flight information on the screen, you will know which boarding gate you would like to head to.
a boarding gate and a bored guy
This idea works best for the most international cities (such as Hong Kong and Singapore) and famous layover hubs (say, Frankfurt, Dubai, and Doha). By embracing this proposal, the cities are sending a signal that they promote multiculturalism and care about innovation. In other words, this is low-cost PR.
Surely, not everyone will be impressed. Still, the benefit is likely to be hefty. According to the latest data available, in 2016, there were 1.235 billion international tourist arrivals worldwide. Even if 10% are drawn to the idea, this means the equivalent of the entire Japanese population will be affected.
Of course, at issue is not mastery or proficiency, but exposure. In this age of growing globalization and deepening division, languages can mend fences as much as convey ideas. Just as traveling is a gateway to learning about a culture, a foreign language is a passport to the heart and soul of a foreign land and its people. When you make an effort to utter "Hello" or "Thank you" in the local language, expect to be rewarded a smile or a free off-the-menu espresso, as was the case in my recent trip to Bali, Indonesia.
been there, done that
Language is more than a tool; it is a bond that connects souls. If you like the idea of "airport language exchange zones", please "like" this post and share it with language lovers. Your action speaks louder than your words : )
孟庆伟 Justin
中英双语写作者
《经济学人》10 年研究者
雅思写作 8 分，口语 8 分
Banner：Hong Kong International Airport.
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