One option to get around this is to use a globe icon to direct users to the menu. So far, the globe is one of the few icons that easily bridges any language barrier. Better yet, select their language for them. Imagine you came upon a Web page that used a language you did not understand. Probably not very long, which is why the previous language gateways are at best a temporary solution.
Content negotiation provides a long-term solution.
Many people don't even realize this functionality exists. And it's not limited to Apache. Similar functionality can be achieved on a Microsoft server using ASP scripts. In this case, you should still build an English default page with language gateways. This combination of approaches will direct users to their target languages fairly seamlessly.