I have used google translate to communicate with someone speaking a foreign language. Sat next to them and typed in English, translate, let them read and then type in their language.
It works if you are VERY patient.
It produces a lot of fucked up conversations and creates a ton of confusion if you try and talk about anything more complicated than "I want to eat fish curry", but if you are patient and try a few times you can eventually kind of get your ideas through.
Sure as hell does beat sitting there with a dictionary looking up words and pointing though, which is how I used to have to do things like that 10 years ago!