What's Wrong With Britain

[Ria]

I can tell you, at least, not in the most important museums in London. Once I was offered an audio guide, but it was in English! :willy_nilly:
I didn't mind though I did think it was a bit stuck up. But my parents (who don't speak a word of English) were pissed.

Oh right, I was given the wrong info then - that's sad Maria that you had your time ruined, or that your parents had their time spoilt by that.

I may well write to the museums to find out why they haven't put other languages on audio then, when I was told they do - that's not good.

 

[Breath]

Yes, but I wasn't really speaking about that. I was speaking about museums and touristical atracctions. If I am a tourist, I am not supposed to speak English, know what I mean? We don't asume that all tourists comming from the UK or the US have to speak Spanish, that's why we have it written in English (normally also in French and German).

I wasn't exactly responding to what you had specifically said. Your post made me think and with your thoughts in mind, I responded to Peter's original thread question, "What's Wrong With Britain?" My comment was reitterating that America doesn't always assume that English is the only spoken language (as we also may include Spanish translations at tourist attractions, museums and restaurants), just like you compared Spain to also including English translations to its tourists.

 

[Maritxu]

I wasn't exactly responding to what you had specifically said. Your post made me think and with your thoughts in mind, I responded to Peter's original thread question, "What's Wrong With Britain?" My comment was reitterating that America doesn't always assume that English is the only spoken language (as we also may include Spanish translations at tourist attractions, museums and restaurants), just like you compared Spain to also including English translations to its tourists.

ok, sorry for the misunderstanding then

 

[Maritxu]

Oh right, I was given the wrong info then - that's sad Maria that you had your time ruined, or that your parents had their time spoilt by that.

I may well write to the museums to find out why they haven't put other languages on audio then, when I was told they do - that's not good.

It wouldn't have been so bad if:
a) I wouldn't love museums
b) we wouldn't have bought the London Pass
c) My mom would not be the type of person who loves to blame you over things you have no control over

 

[Ria]

It wouldn't have been so bad if:
a) I wouldn't love museums
b) we wouldn't have bought the London Pass
c) My mom would not be the type of person who loves to blame you over things you have no control over

Yeah, but it is bad that ppl come here to find out the history of our country and cannot understand it, as it's all in English only.

I will write to them, or maybe phone them - hopefully by the time you next come here Maria, it'll be sorted? It will certainly be interesting to see what they say. I bet they say "Well, we wouldn't be able to store all those different languages, but most countries speak English anyway, so it isn't a problem in general". That could be a typical response. We will see. Watch this space......

 

[Maritxu]

Yeah, but it is bad that ppl come here to find out the history of our country and cannot understand it, as it's all in English only.

I will write to them, or maybe phone them - hopefully by the time you next come here Maria, it'll be sorted? It will certainly be interesting to see what they say. I bet they say "Well, we wouldn't be able to store all those different languages, but most countries speak English anyway, so it isn't a problem in general". That could be a typical response. We will see. Watch this space......

That would be the typical stuck up response
It was certainly a pity in all museums but even more in the Globe, which I loved. They only gaved you a piece of paper in Spanish and the rest was in English. It was frustrating to see my parents bored and I enjoying it so much.

 

[Ria]

That would be the typical stuck up response
It was certainly a pity in all museums but even more in the Globe, which I loved. They only gaved you a piece of paper in Spanish and the rest was in English. It was frustrating to see my parents bored and I enjoying it so much.

That is my next thing to do then on my list - that's horrible that people are stopped from enjoying things.

 

[Ria]

Since my last post on this thread, I have been making enquiries into details on other languages in museums and these are some I found out for you. Have to post the others in a minute cos too many images for the post:

This is part of what the info says on the internet about The Natural History Museum:

Every day the Museum welcomes hundreds of visitors from all over the world, and our aim is to offer as much information in as many languages as possible.
Our staff on the information desks around the Museum speak a variety of languages, so if English is not your first language, please ask to see if someone can speak your language.
Maps, souvenir guides and touch screen information throughout the Museum are also available in a number of different languages.

For the Victoria and Albert Museum it sayd they have it in these languages below:

 

[Ria]

And the others are:

National Maritime Museum in these languages:





The Canal Museum, has it in French, Dutch and Italian.

The Chrchill and War Rooms: Audio guide in, Spanish, Italian, German, Hebrew, French.

Shakespeare's Globe (as you mentioned Maria) can arrange other language tours if pre-booked and for groups over 15 people. Not too helpful as to why this though when I rang them.

Science Museum - well, I couldn't get to speak to someone for real, as the recorded messages they have on their number, just kept going, despite me pressing the options I needed, so got nowhere there I am afraid. I have been there though and it is very good and free, as are all our museums apart from special events tours some of them hold.

Freud Museum: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

London Transport Museum: No audio tours, but they have info sheets and info screens around the museum, in other languages, including Spanish.

These are just some of the museums I managed to either ring or find out from the internet for now. Just to give some info really to get some idea.

They don't all mention about the languages that they do tours in either by audio, info sheets or info screens around the museums, on the internet, so some would have to be telephoned to enquire.

 

[Ria]

Not all have Spanish granted, but most of them from what I can tell and have been told before, do accomodate other languages.

 

[Maritxu]

Since my last post on this thread, I have been making enquiries into details on other languages in museums and these are some I found out for you. Have to post the others in a minute cos too many images for the post:

This is part of what the info says on the internet about The Natural History Museum:

Every day the Museum welcomes hundreds of visitors from all over the world, and our aim is to offer as much information in as many languages as possible.
Our staff on the information desks around the Museum speak a variety of languages, so if English is not your first language, please ask to see if someone can speak your language.
Maps, souvenir guides and touch screen information throughout the Museum are also available in a number of different languages.

We went to that museum, I thought it was amazing
Still, nothing in the museum was in anything but English.

 

[Maritxu]

And the others are:

National Maritime Museum in these languages:





The Canal Museum, has it in French, Dutch and Italian.

The Chrchill and War Rooms: Audio guide in, Spanish, Italian, German, Hebrew, French.

Shakespeare's Globe (as you mentioned Maria) can arrange other language tours if pre-booked and for groups over 15 people. Not too helpful as to why this though when I rang them.

Science Museum - well, I couldn't get to speak to someone for real, as the recorded messages they have on their number, just kept going, despite me pressing the options I needed, so got nowhere there I am afraid. I have been there though and it is very good and free, as are all our museums apart from special events tours some of them hold.

Freud Museum: French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Spanish

London Transport Museum: No audio tours, but they have info sheets and info screens around the museum, in other languages, including Spanish.

These are just some of the museums I managed to either ring or find out from the internet for now. Just to give some info really to get some idea.

They don't all mention about the languages that they do tours in either by audio, info sheets or info screens around the museums, on the internet, so some would have to be telephoned to enquire.

Science museum was similar to the natural history museum. I haven't visited the rest of them because honestly, we didn't have time. The museums close VERY soon over there.

 

[Maritxu]

We also visited the following:
Tower of London
Jewel Tower
Southwark Cathedral
St. Paul
The Queen's gallery
A museum of tea and some other small stuff
The Tower bridge exihibion
Royal Mews
Eton College
Windsor Casttle
and probably more I can't remember...

 

[Ria]

We went to that museum, I thought it was amazing
Still, nothing in the museum was in anything but English.

Oh right, even though it says in their info, that they have other language speaking staff and:

Maps, souvenir guides and touch screen information throughout the Museum are also available in a number of different languages.

 

[Peter Parka]

Maria does raise an interesting point though. Whenever I've gone to Europe they put us to shame by all being able to speak our language whereas its a lot harder for foreign language speaking people over here! I also don't like the way a lot of our people represent our country abroad by being arrogant, pissed up yobs.

 

[Ria]

Maria does raise an interesting point though. Whenever I've gone to Europe they put us to shame by all being able to speak our language whereas its a lot harder for foreign language speaking people over here! I also don't like the way a lot of our people represent our country abroad by being arrogant, pissed up yobs.

Oh yeah, I do agree, just thought I would find out why, out of the museums who didn't do Spanish, but try and find some that did too, incase they were useful for another time.

I was told by one that it's cos they are a charity and the cost was too much to get the guide translated for the too few Spanish for instance, who toured the museum - that was The Imperial museum I think. I was surprised to see one I have listed, having Hebrew of all the languages......

I don't go abroad so I can't comment on English abroad, but it has been on the news enough about English footballers going abroad and their really foul behaviour, so yes, that's disgraceful.

 

[Peter Parka]

I was told by one that it's cos they are a charity and the cost was too much to get the guide translated for the too few Spanish for instance, who toured the museum - that was The Imperial museum I think. I was surprised to see one I have listed, having Hebrew of all the languages......

Got to admit our museums do us proud by not charging an entrance fee at a lot of the big ones and some of the big galleries!:clap

 

[Ria]

Science museum was similar to the natural history museum. I haven't visited the rest of them because honestly, we didn't have time. The museums close VERY soon over there.

Yep, there are a lot to get round, so not easy to do all in one go.

Interesting you thought the Natural History and the Science museums similar - I suppose we each have different stances on things.

We also visited the following:
Tower of London
Jewel Tower
Southwark Cathedral
St. Paul
The Queen's gallery
A museum of tea and some other small stuff
The Tower bridge exihibion
Royal Mews
Eton College
Windsor Casttle
and probably more I can't remember...

Well, you certainly did tour maria - how long were you here for?

Got to admit our museums do us proud by not charging an entrance fee at a lot of the big ones and some of the big galleries!:clap

Yeah, not bad with a no entrance fee thing, except when some of them have specific exhibitions going on, then there are fees.

I found out that you can actually book to stay overnight in a museum (can't remember which one or if more than one museum now) - that'd be interesting. I wouldn't mind doing that - not sure how much it cost, but worth finding out.

I took my son to see Night Museum at the cinema not too long ago - didn't think it actually happened that you can stay overnight for real in our ones though. Good idea.

 

[Peter Parka]

Yeah, not bad with a no entrance fee thing, except when some of them have specific exhibitions going on, then there are fees.

I found out that you can actually book to stay overnight in a museum (can't remember which one or if more than one museum now) - that'd be interesting. I wouldn't mind doing that - not sure how much it cost, but worth finding out.

I took my son to see Night Museum at the cinema not too long ago - didn't think it actually happened that you can stay overnight for real in our ones though. Good idea.

That would be cool as long as it wasn't the British museum and it turned into what happed there in "The Mummy Returns!":willy_nilly:I used to do some work in Harlow museum, it was pretty cool, especially when I was on my own once so I had a ride round it on a penny farthing wearing an English civil war helmet!:rockon:

 

[Peter Parka]

Oh, and Maria, next time you're over you want to go to the Museum of London, the National gallery and the national portrait gallery. I was going to take you along to the two galleries last time you were over if you were interested in that. Maybe next time.