How to tell me without telling me 

Intuitive sign language fills in where verbal communication has gaps

By Mikayla Talkington, USAC Bilbao

I never thought I could handle staying in a country where I didn’t know the language. I only spoke English, and I butchered every attempt to learn Spanish back in high school. So, even though I was super interested in studying abroad in Bilbao, Spain, through University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC), I was hesitant to take the leap. I was afraid I’d feel stranded and unable to communicate.  

Not long after I arrived, I started to realize just how important nonverbal communication is. My finger-pointing and eye contact were often more helpful than my attempts at speaking Spanish. Researchers estimate that 60–90% of communication is nonverbal, which just shows that speaking only gets you so far.  

While I was in Spain, I felt especially lucky to be in the Basque Country. There, pintxos (kind of like small, fancy snacks served on bread) are very common. They’re displayed behind glass at almost every bar or restaurant, and the selection changes all the time — there usually aren’t labels, so everyone just points at what they want. That made it really easy to communicate, even without knowing the words.  

Plates of food

The same thing happened in places with a physical menu. Just pointing at a menu item was enough. I didn’t need to be fluent in Spanish or know any Basque. I could just rely on gestures, and it worked.  

There were other times when nonverbal communication totally saved me. One time, my friend and I were taking the bus back to Bilbao from San Sebastián and accidentally sat in the wrong seats. A few simple hand gestures and nods between us and the other passengers, and we got it figured out with zero drama. The same thing happened again on the flight home — someone was in my seat, and even though we didn’t speak the same language, we figured it out in seconds.  

Studying abroad definitely made me more aware of body language. Out in public, I couldn’t follow conversations word-for-word, but I could still get a general idea of what was going on. I could tell how people were feeling based on their tone, posture, and facial expressions.  

Left: aerial view of a bridge over water. Right: Mikayla at a restaurant.

One moment that really stuck with me happened on the metro. I started coughing like crazy — like full-on, choking-on-my-own-lungs coughing — and I was trying not to cause a scene. I quietly asked my friend if they had a cough drop. They didn’t. So, I just sat there trying to suppress the coughs. A Spanish woman sitting in front of me who didn’t speak English and probably had no idea what I’d said reached into her bag to hand me a cough drop. It was such a kind, generous gesture. Even though we didn’t exchange a single word, we both understood what was happening. I was so grateful, and I could tell she knew that.  

Looking back, I’m really glad I didn’t let the language barrier stop me from studying abroad. I learned that you don’t always need perfect words to connect with people. Sometimes a gesture, a look, or even just shared context is enough.  

Nonverbal communication gave me the confidence to explore, ask for what I needed, and feel a sense of belonging in a place that once felt intimidating. It made me more observant, more adaptable, and reminded me that kindness and understanding go far beyond language. 

Mikayla graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno, with a Master of Science degree in Finance. She studied abroad in Bilbao, Spain with University Studies Abroad Consortium, and became a student ambassador for the nonprofit after her program was complete. She shared her insight and experiences with prospective students and assisted with outreach efforts.

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