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Accessories

• Keep your accessories in a zippered pouch. You can find a suitable one at any office supply store.
• If you have SD cards or MMCs, keep them in a special case made for these cards. Put it inside your zippered pouch.
• Generally, new accessories do not come out after the device has been on the market. But sometimes, they do. Wecarry the current offerings of accessories, so check this site to see what's available.

Batteries/charging

• If your translator has an li-poly rechargeable battery, don't charge it for more than 6 to 12 hours.
• If your batteries are alkaline, consider replacing them with rechargeable ones (pick up a charger and batteries at your local office store).

Translating

• If your translator has multiple translation tools, use the simplest one for the task. For example, if you need to get a central idea across and it's really one word then use the translation dictionary.
• If your translator has the full text translation feature, stick with simple noun-verb or verb-noun constructions. Reason: The device can't interpret idiomatic expressions. If you need to make an idiomatic expression, use the phrasebook (pretranslated sentences).

Non-translation programs

• If your translator has a language teacher program, use this prior to taking a trip. It isn't necessary to complete the whole program, but if you learn some basics before taking your trip you can communicate much more effectively.
• Most of the non-translation programs won't be useful to a particular person. What usually happens is different people like different things and so you're likely to find one or two of these programs exceptionally useful. Play around with the device a bit to see which of these best suit you.

Device problems

• As with most gadgets today, if it malfunctions reboot it. The button that turns the screen on and off does not turn the device on and off. The device has a reset button. This doesn't completely clear the memory, though. If a reset doesn't fix your problem, remove the battery(ies) and after waiting about 15 minutes put the battery(ies) back in and restart the device.
• If the device has an SD card or MMC, pop it out, pop it back in, and reset the device.

Speaking with foreign language speakers.

• Speak slowly and annunciate clearly. Americans tend to speak fast and run their words together, frustrating people whose first language isn't English. Leave a distinct pause between each word. Even if this seems idiotic to you, the other person will appreciate it.
• Try to use correct grammar. Sadly, most Americans cannot pass a test of Standard Written English. Yet, this is the language that non-English speakers are taught. Mangled syntax and misplaced modifiers are especially confusing. When you use a word such as "only" use it immediately preceding the word it applies to. You don't have to be an English major to be understood, but you will be understood better if you brush up on your basic grammar.
• Thank the other person. If the other person has learned enough English that you can communicate in English, say that you appreciate this. And do allow for the fact the other person's English vocabulary is nowhere near as large as yours.

Safe traveling

• While it might be exciting to go off the beaten tourist path, doing so increases your potential for trouble. If you have arranged for a guide ahead of time, this might not be a problem. But don't "hook up" with a friendly stranger who wants to help you see the sights.
• Stay alert. If you like to go to bars or pubs, limit your consumption to just enough to be social. You can get snickered back at home much more safely than you can in a foreign country.