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The world on your doorstep

By Tom, founder of Three Smiles

You do not need a passport to use three words. Here is how to use Three Smiles with the people you meet every week.

At the last census, around one in six people living in England and Wales had been born outside the UK. That is the nurse on the ward, the chef in the kitchen, the student in the flat upstairs and the colleague who brings in cake from home. Most of them speak English with us all day. Very few of us ever say a word back in theirs.

Three phrases change that. Hello, thank you and cheers, said in someone’s own language, tell them you noticed. You do not need to be on holiday to do it.

Let them tell you

This is the one rule that matters. Never guess where someone is from by how they look, sound or what their name is. “Where are you from?” can feel loaded, especially to someone who was born here.

Wait until it comes up. A colleague mentions a trip home. A neighbour talks about their family. The restaurant has the country on the sign. Once you know, you can ask, “How do you say hello in Polish?” Most people are delighted to be asked. Some will teach you a better version than ours.

Put it where you will see it

Learning three words is easy. Remembering them is the hard part. That is what the widget is for.

1. Open the place in the app and pin it.
2. Add the Three Smiles widget to your home screen. Here is how.
3. When you have no trip coming up, the widget shows your pinned place. You see the words every time you pick up your phone.
4. Give it a week. By then, hello is usually yours.

Start with one word

You do not need all three on day one. Say hello the next time you see them. Save thank you for when it fits. Cheers can wait for the leaving drinks.

Lean on the coloured syllable. Say it once, kindly, and do not make a performance of it. If they reply in a rush of their own language, smile and say you only know the one word. That is usually where the conversation starts.

It will not always land

Some people will not want to talk about where they are from, and that is their call. Some will reply in English and move on. That is fine too. You were not asking for anything. If it feels awkward, leave it there.

Most of the time, though, you will see the same thing you see on holiday. A pause, a double take, and then a real smile.