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Language sopken at Resort

Miramichi, Canada
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218 posts
1 review
1 helpful vote
Language sopken at Resort
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I've been reading some reviews and it is often mentioned that Resort employees don't speak a lot of English . How about French ? As I know some Haitian go to the DR for work..

New Brunswick...
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6,399 posts
44 reviews
238 helpful votes
1. Re: Language sopken at Resort
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We have yet to be at a resort in the DR where the staff do not speak enough English to get by. I think the comments come from those who try to hold full conversations with the staff and ask them stupid things they wouldn't know - but as far as having enough English to do their particular job they are usually fine.

But yes some do speak French as well.

nyc
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2,777 posts
25 reviews
21 helpful votes
2. Re: Language sopken at Resort
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Depending on resort region, alternate languages are more frequently.

I know its a spanish speaking country and all, but so is mexico.

The resorts should try to retain staff that have a working knowledge of english, not only at the front desk and management, but in the resturaunts as well.

It will not only resolve conflict, it will offer more appeal to the very close US and Canadian visitors.

It is unfortunate that out of the three spanish speaking , only puerto rico offers fluent english.

Bedford
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5,191 posts
88 reviews
338 helpful votes
3. Re: Language sopken at Resort
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Quite a lot of employees seem to speak French.

It's a Spanish speaking country. In the UK we get huge numbers of tourists from Japan. They seem to cope even if they don't come across many Japanese speaking waiters. As do all other foreign visitors.

I can see the point about possibly resolving conflict, but I would not find the DR any more appealing even if everyone spoke fluent English. i enjoy practising my Spanish which I am learning purely because of our visits to the DR.

Edited: 7 years ago
Atlanta, Georgia
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10,708 posts
74 reviews
80 helpful votes
4. Re: Language sopken at Resort
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Any review with that kind of complaint should be ignored. That's people should probably not be allowed to leave their hometown where they can live with people only speak English.

I always wonder if these people think that when a foreign tourists comes to their town everyone suddenly speaks the language of the visitor.

5. Re: Language sopken at Resort

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6. Re: Language sopken at Resort

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nyc
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2,777 posts
25 reviews
21 helpful votes
7. Re: Language sopken at Resort
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The resorts that have visitors that speak many languages should have some staff available to help. Of course it is a Spanish speaking country, and they should speak their native language, but you are getting many dollars from these visitor, and it does move your economy, and brings a profit.

These staff members should be in areas where help would be needed the most. Food and Beverage areas, Front Desk, Phone Operator, at least have one or 2 at each location. when there is a problem with communication, just send that staff member over, problem resolved.

I do have some friends that live in the DR full time, and asked this same question to them, why such limited English at the resorts. There response was that they can make the same pay or more doing easier, less labor intensive work in other industries, or the resorts place those staff members in managerial, timeshare sales, or that 1 person at the front desk, to collect the revenue. So the English speaker would rather answer phone calls all day.

There should be a push for more English language courses in the DR, since all their neighbors speak English as well as Spanish.

8. Re: Language sopken at Resort

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Bedford
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5,191 posts
88 reviews
338 helpful votes
9. Re: Language sopken at Resort
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Without wishing to be rude, My G, is English your own usual language? Your posts contain some very strange constructions which a fluent English speaker would not use.

It almost sounds as if you are pretending to be a visitor but are really someone who, for some reason, wants to damage Be Live La Romana's reputation.

Sosua, Dominican...
Destination Expert
for Dominican Republic
Level Contributor
10,615 posts
1 review
3 helpful votes
10. Re: Language sopken at Resort
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I agree MissFitts, pretty strong posts against the resorts.

To the original OP, yes there may be some Haitians at the resort but mostly in the more menial jobs, not necessarily customer contact. There are enough staff that speak English or French so you will get along fine.

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