Multilingual-intercultural contexts in qualitative research pose special challenges for which researchers must prepare. English has become a language used globally for communication and research. Sharing a common language does not necessarily lead to successful communication, mutual understanding, and correct analysis of data. This was the experience in a qualitative research project in form of a case study at Savannakhet University that examined intercultural barriers to the English language learning process in Laos. The multilingual-intercultural research context highlights the urgency for the researcher to become familiar with local conditions and adapt the approach to fit the specific research situation. With a sensitivity for differences and the skills of a multilingual communicator, the irritations and barriers in multilingual-intercultural contexts may be turned into productive irritations leading to more comprehensive and detailed data and a more critical analysis.