Lew Crippen
Senior HTF Member
- Joined
- May 19, 2002
- Messages
- 12,060
It varies Eric. In most countries where I have lived, frequented or visited, public places that attract visitors (such as airports and train stations), there is quite a lot of English. This is especially true in places (such as Korea) that do not (primarily) use a Roman alphabet. Most countries have at least some TV in English (usually from a cable or satellite service—though a few have English language stations as well) and also have English language newspapers (although I have seen a bit of a decline in them in the last few years—something I attribute to the Internet).
Most electronics from major companies had some products with English on the outside of the packaging and all (at least as far as I know) had manuals in English. Back in the 90s I bought a Samsung DVD player in Japan that had English on the box (along with other languages that I can no longer recall), an LG radio in Korea and a Sony receiver (back in Japan).
Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil had only limited packing in English (as I recall) except for items from major, international companies. Then again, I was not shopping for products in those places, so my memory is probably not reliable. I will say that grocery shopping in Venezuela would have been very frustrating for those who could not read or speak Spanish.
Costa Rica has a ton of English everywhere.
Most Aussies speak lousy American, but with practice one can understand them.
Many smaller counties like Thailand have most imported products packaged with some English.
Most electronics from major companies had some products with English on the outside of the packaging and all (at least as far as I know) had manuals in English. Back in the 90s I bought a Samsung DVD player in Japan that had English on the box (along with other languages that I can no longer recall), an LG radio in Korea and a Sony receiver (back in Japan).
Argentina, Venezuela and Brazil had only limited packing in English (as I recall) except for items from major, international companies. Then again, I was not shopping for products in those places, so my memory is probably not reliable. I will say that grocery shopping in Venezuela would have been very frustrating for those who could not read or speak Spanish.
Costa Rica has a ton of English everywhere.
Most Aussies speak lousy American, but with practice one can understand them.
Many smaller counties like Thailand have most imported products packaged with some English.