Learning the Local Lingo on an Educational School Trip
Field trip (Photo credit: leesamlong)
School trips are a popular way to extend learning beyond the classroom walls. Given a specific focus, they are even more influential. In particular, they are a fantastic opportunity to introduce people to new countries and cultures and strengthen foreign language skills.
School Trips with a Difference
Any school trip is one designed to broaden the mind and provide an educational experience for everyone involved. Rather than just a break from the classroom, it is a chance to learn, explore and discover, whether a museum, a countryside trek or a day in the city.
A number of school trip organizers go beyond the norm and take that extra step to provide students with an experience that is truly unforgettable. Some decide to stretch the break from merely a day out to many days spent exploring a particular locale. Others put focus onto a particular topic or area, promoting a further interest in the subject at hand. Architecture, citizenship, conservation, even literature, to name just a few, can be the inspiration behind a school tour.
A Journey Across Borders
As travel becomes cheaper and the world more easily accessible, one increasingly popular type of school trip is one that sees students travelling abroad. For many people, it is an introduction to the wider world and an experience to set a precedent for all their future forays abroad.
Continental Europe is not just close by, but its plethora of countries also offers an opportunity to see new places and experience cultures and cuisines that cannot be found at home. From the canals of Amsterdam to the historic charm of Prague, opportunities and activities abound. Some students may even have the opportunity to travel further afield. The USA, Canada, Dubai, Egypt, China, Thailand Japan; these are just a handful of the top destinations that offer outstanding student experiences.
Lessons in Language and Life
New countries and new cultures are more than just an experience in observation. They are an invitation to immerse oneself in different lifestyles and learn about people from different backgrounds. It is also the perfect opportunity to learn, practice and perfect foreign language skills.
Away from the blackboard and books, languages are transformed into something real and something worthwhile that serve a true purpose. More than just verbs and adjectives, language is a bond that ties people together. Simultaneously, having knowledge of a language helps to break down barriers, opening doors to understanding and acceptance. As such, even a limited vocabulary in another language can prove important, helping with everything from ordering food to communicating effectively with the people around, as well as being a top confidence booster.
School trips provide many things, but first and foremost they are an opportunity to experience and learn. Possibly more than most, a school trip abroad places emphasis on expanding one’s horizons, a chance to discover ways of life that are completely new. Immersed in the culture, there is no better way to learn a language, setting students up with skills that will last a lifetime.
AUTHOR BIO
Smith is a travel writer who contributes to a number of online magazines and websites. As a former student tour leader, he takes particular interest in experiences such as those provided at http://www.travelbound.co.uk.
Category: Travel
