I recently posted a question on Reddit asking for opinions on when someone would need to use a multilingual messaging tool to communicate. Surprisingly, I did not receive a single comment. This is likely due to Reddit being a predominantly English-based platform, where over 50% of its users are from native English-speaking countries (e.g., US, UK, Canada, Australia). It’s obvious that when you live in a country where virtually everyone speaks the same language, you don’t need a translation tool.
Now, let’s think outside the box for a moment. What if you step out of your comfort zone and into one that speaks a foreign language that you have no clue about?
Some people think translation apps are just for asking “Where’s the washroom?” But after traveling to 40 countries and living in 4 countries on 4 continents, I’ve realized these multilingual apps are basically Swiss Army knives for modern life. Their uses go beyond translating chat messages and signboards. Here are some game-changing uses that’ll make you wonder how you ever lived without them.
Freelancing
That’s right! Perhaps this didn’t cross your mind. Most of us only think of freelancing in our language. But how about in languages that we don’t fully understand? Many years ago, I used to outsource game development work to Vietnamese developers. Due to language barrier, they appointed a front guy who could speak English to deal with me. But now, they don’t have to.
Today, there are numerous tools and apps out there can can help us to communicate in different languages without showing a hint that we don’t actually know the language. A friend working with an international company in Tokyo uses Deepl to translate between English and Japanese because Deepl sounded much more natural than Google Translate.
A freelancer could use ChatGPT to translate their profile to a foreign language with perfection. When it comes to communicating with clients, one could use the BiiB multilingual messaging app that works like WhatsApp but auto-translates messages to the recipient’s language. It comes with a web interface, which means the client doesn’t even need to install any app.
Below are some of the freelancer marketplaces that you can try in different languages.
French
| Platform | Description |
| Malt | Popular in France and French-speaking countries |
| Codeur.com | French-speaking freelance tech marketplace |
| 5euros.com | Like Fiverr but in French |
Japanese
| Platform | Description |
| Lancers | Japan’s biggest freelancing site |
| CrowdWorks | Offers freelance jobs in various industries |
| シュフティ (Shufti) | Focused on work-from-home jobs |
Korean
| Platform | Description |
| KMong (크몽) | Korea’s top freelancing platform |
| Wishket (위시켓) | B2B tech freelance site |
| Taling (탈잉) | More for tutoring/education gigs |
Spanish
| Platform | Description |
| Workana | Dominant in Latin America |
| SoyFreelancer | LATAM and Spain |
| Freelancer.es | Localized version of Freelancer.com |
Hotel Front Desk Communication
I went to Japan multiple times, and on many occasions, the hotels flashed out their Google Translate app to talk to us. But Google Translate is only good for face-to-face communication. There was one incident where we were checking into a hotel that had a self-check-in front desk. We needed to deal with a computer to check in, and when an error occurred, we had to call customer support. Google Translate couldn’t help us then.
Today, I wish they used BiiB so that we could communicate remotely. We could just scan their BiiB QR code and I could start chatting in English (or Chinese) and they can reply in Japanese, all done without being face-to-face.
Tour Guiding
Probably most of us didn’t see this coming. How on earth could one use a translation app as a tour guide? Well, with BiiB app, you probably can. It comes with a nifty feature called “hands-free mode” where a tour guide can speak to the app and tourists listen in their own language.
Here’s how it works. A tour guide creates a group chat for their customers on BiiB. During a tour, the guide uses the voice-to-text feature on the app to convert their speech to text. Instantly, the text is translated in real-time into the respective languages that the tourists understand and the text is read aloud. It’s like a live audio guide! Best of all, the tour guide can even post photos and videos on the group chat to further enhance the tour experience.
Complementing Tourist Assistants
Chances are, you might have entered a tourist information center while traveling. You would encounter a multilingual assistant to help you. But there are just so many languages that they can know. What about the other languages beyond their comprehension? Here comes translation apps to save the day again.
But if we think further, some tourism authorities do implement tourist hotlines, such as the 1313 number in Korea. But it’s expensive to hire multiple interpreters with various language skills, and the staff must be well-trained to assist tourists. One viable option is to use a multilingual messaging system to complement the existing languages that the tourist assistants already comprehend.
For instance, a tourism board can hire individuals with knowledge of three foreign languages. Whenever they encounter any travelers who speak languages other than these three, they can request the tourists to conveniently communicate via this auto-translation chat system. The BiiB app is one of these systems available for free, and it works much like instant messengers, which makes it even easier to use for everyone.
Hospitals and Clinics Communicating with Foreign Patients
I was at a pharmacy in Barcelona looking for medicines for my wife. We were trying to explain the symptoms to the pharmacist, who only spoke Spanish. It took us some effort to finally obtain the right remedy.
Now, try to imagine a similar situation in a foreign clinic or hospital. Medical specialists often have miscommunications with foreign patients due to language barrier. This puts both sides at risk of medical malpractice. If the medical tourism market is something a country is after, it should be prepared with sufficient translation services to serve international patients.
One country that has been eyeing this market is South Korea, and they are currently adopting AI technology to enhance the communication channels between medical centers and foreign patients.
Ride Hailing
During the feature phone period, I was traveling to Bohemian Paradise (Český ráj) at the outskirts of Prague, Czechia. I was in a cab with a local driver who literally didn’t speak a single word of English. With some miracle, and much trying, he managed to find me a hotel to stay and fetched me back to the train station two nights later.
Fast forward to today’s smartphone era, and we can quickly flash our trusty Google Translate app. The only hope is that the taxi driver could understand how to use the app. I’ve been through enough dreadful situations where drivers who can’t read Roman alphabets (come to Korea or Japan) found me disrespectful for flashing my phone at their faces to ask them to talk to Google Translate.
If you use Uber, you don’t need Google Translate since it comes with a built-in translation feature on top of its multilingual system. But not much can be said about its translation accuracy.
Immigration Officers Communicating With Inbound Visitors
I’ve seen enough situations when visitors to a country have trouble communicating with officers at the airport immigration clearance. Most tourists who can’t speak much English tend to veer to the safe side by joining tour groups. The tour leader usually speaks on their behalf.
But translation apps could save the hassle if one encounters an issue at the immigration checkpoint. Sometimes, the officers just wish to ask some questions.
Enhancing Concierge With Multilingual Capability
This is rather self-explanatory, but interestingly, I’ve yet to find a concierge who could communicate beyond three languages. Most are only bilingual. Perhaps with a real-time translation system like BiiB, or Google Translate, they could be quadlingual and beyond.
Business-to-Business Communication
If an exporting company is concerned about U.S. tariffs, then it should consider exporting to other untapped countries. But high translation accuracy is critical in a business environment when reputation is at stake. Thus, they can consider using translation apps that are powered by near-perfect AI translation engines such as Deepl or BiiB. Both apps are powered by highly accurate language models.
BiiB has the upper hand in this setting because it allows one to chat directly without having to copy and paste every text between Deepl (or Google Translate) and their email or WhatsApp.
Customer Service For International Customers
As the world becomes more globalized, translation apps are becoming a more indispensable tool. Whether online or offline, chances are you may find a foreign customer at your store with questions to ask.
Me and my American friends were once at a bakery in Seoul, and they wanted to know the opening hours. The owner gestured a cross (“X”) in front of us and said in English, “No alcohol.” Apparently, she thought we wanted to purchase beers. Eventually, their Korean-speaking daughter came and saved the day.
Communicating With Migrant Workers
According to the International Labour Organization (ILO), there were an estimated 167.7 million international migrant workers globally in 2022, representing 4.7% of the global labor force.
Some countries do require migrant workers to pass local language exams, such as South Korea and Japan. However, these tests are often basic language examinations. In the case of domestic helpers, such as those from the Philippines or Indonesia, most countries do not have formal linguistic requirements.
Therefore, employers still struggle to communicate with their foreign workers, and this is when translation tools really help. One human resource company in Malaysia is using BiiB to communicate with its 500 workers from Bangladesh and Indonesia.
Interpreting Conference Talks in Real-Time
The famous interpreting earphones you often see at the United Nations General Assembly are an interesting sight. Made famous in the movie, The Interpreter, starring Nicole Kidman, when a speaker speaks, an interpreter listens in and immediately interprets the speech into a different language in real time. This is known as simultaneous interpretation.
Unlike the UN, not every conference organizer can afford to employ one high-quality interpreter for every language it wishes to support. But now, with BiiB multilingual app, you can achieve this. By using the same “hands-free mode” used by tour guides, an event organizer can wire their Public Address (PA) system to a mobile phone and let the app listen in to convert the speech to text. These text messages are then sent to a group, and delegates only need to join to group and listen in, albeit in their language. No fuss, no buzz, just technology at work.
Interpreting International Business Matchmaking Events
I’ve been to over a dozen business matchmaking events, and if you happen to participate in one in a foreign land, chances are you will be provided an interpreter by the organizer.
Google Translate does come with a conversation feature, and this could help two parties to communicate in different languages. Although this app is akin to a Swiss Army Knife for translations, due to its lack of accuracy in certain language pairs, it is still a versatile tool to have in your international business arsenal.
Global Dating
Beyond business linguistic needs, translation apps can play a compelling role for lonely hearts seeking romance overseas. This is evidence from multiple international dating sites available online. A Korean friend of mine sometimes had to use Papago (Korean version of Google Translate) to text potential partners from Italy, Australia, and more. He speaks basic English, but sometimes he still needs some help from translation AI.
Learning a Foreign Language
I used to date a girl from China, and my Mandarin proficiency skyrocketed during that short stint we were together. Thanks to the translation app that we used on a daily basis.
If you’re trying to brush up on your foreign language skills, a language learning app like HelloTalk can do you wonders. It matches you with a native language speaker, and that’s when your training can really shine. The daughter of my Malaysian friend did this religiously when learning Korean, and today she’s employed by Samsung Malaysia. Her Korean language mastery is flawless, according to my wife. Even her accent is natural.
Finally
In conclusion, translation apps are no longer just travel accessories – they’re powerful tools that enrich our personal, professional, and social lives in unexpected ways. The next time you encounter a language barrier, remember that you’re not just facing a communication challenge – you’re looking at an opportunity to expand your horizons, make a living, grow your business, or simply make a new friend. With the right tools in your pocket, the world truly becomes your oyster, regardless of what language that oyster happens to speak.