Can you run that by me again and again and again and again?

When I went to Japan for a short stay as an Exchange Student, there were times that I could not communicate with my foster mother. She barely knows English and I only know just a few Japanese terms and simple conversational phrases. So, what I did was either I'd do a sign language to point out what I mean or make use of a dictionary. But most of the time, I found that my foster mother would not even talk to me coz she is very shy of her poor English skills.

had to do this while conversing with a Japanese hotel employee. She nearly didn't let me go out of the hotel because she didn't understand my English and even though she said her sentence in the same language. I didn't blame her and had to swicth to impel Japanese and with additional help from another Japanese.

I have been in both situations: one one of them I have been the native speker and in the other I have been speaking another language. She will not be offended. Just tell her to, please, speak very slowly so that accents don´t get in the way. And start by speaking slowly yourself.

I also have a friend who sometimes speak words that I cannot understand. Sometimes I ask them to repeat and sometimes I just smiled or nod my head. It's nice to have friends from other countries- but language has become a great barrier to know them well.

Sometimes it is hard to figure out what a person is saying because they don't speak very well. Sometimes, I just nod my head. But then I realize that the other person is wondering why I am nodding when they have just asked me a question. It can get into some funny situations. It is an awkward situation to be in - so if you didn't want to offend her, perhaps it was the right thing to say to her that you are hard of hearing. Which is the truth, you are hard of hearing what SHE is saying. Perhaps, that will help her to slow down and speak more clearly. Sometimes if someone is trying to speak English and English is not their first language, I will repeat back a word or two, so that they can hear how it is suppose to sound like. Most people appreciate that. I do so, because I want to help that person and they appreciate that I take the time to help them.

You are just honest in asking again and again as long it was delivered nicely is understandable at least you are honest. To correct in the future why not study basic communications of that person before meeting him again as long as you are true to your words you've nothing to be ashamed.

I used to work in a call center and even though the clients that we service live in the US, not everyone will be native Americans. I always feel bad when I spoke with Koreans because we always end up that they have to call back when they have someone who can speak more fluent English. Like you, after the call I would ask myself if I had been rude or if I made the person I spoke with feel bad. But there was this one Japanese lady that I was able to fix her internet problem even though she knew little English. The difference? She knew a lot about her computer, so I would be giving instructions and based it on the icons of the PC. After we were able to fix her connection problem we were both laughing because we both knew we couldn't really understand each other but we were able to make her computer work.

The only non native English speakers that I trouble understanding, are telemarketers and I just hang up on them. I might do the same as you, though it depends on who I'm talking to. Example would be If I mispronounce a word a Spanish, my Spanish speaking friends will have a fit of giggles before correcting me on it. So I don't think they'd be offended if I admit to not catching everything they say. With someone who I'm not so certain about, I'd ask them to repeat themselves if necessary and try to listen more carefully.

Well I have been in this situation and I just asked them to repeat, but then I started saying what I thought they said so I could understand. I basically took words that I understood and then asked them if that is what they meant and vise verse. I mean it was not rude at all, because many that do not have English as their native tongue can get confused or you will have to ask them to repeat sometimes so that you can understand. All you do is just listen closely and see if you can make out most of the words that she is saying, because most of the time you will get what she is trying to say. Good Luck. :)

If I were that Korean, I wouldn't think you're rude. I would feel bad about myself though for giving a new friend a hard time just to converse with me. However, I would say that you would have to exert much more effort that you did when you were speaking with her. The thing is there would always be people who would have a hard time pronouncing words because of their accents and the affect of their native language on their second language is very much obvious. I know it is hard but c'mon! You said it yourself, she's a nice person. I believe it feels really great having friends like that despite of language barrier.

I always have awkward things like that, but it's mostly due to the fact that I just can't understand whsipering. I don't have bad hearing, but whispered words I sometimes can't put together...

I am sure that she knows that she does not pronounce the English words correctly. I am also sure that she understands that you will not always understand her. Do not feel embarrassed in asking her to explain herself. Perhaps you should tell her that you struggle a bit understanding her? Many a time I have to ask my husband 'what did you say?' His problem is that he does not open his mouth when he talks!