5 Tips to Foster Learning While Traveling

Education is often seen as a process of acquiring knowledge, and often takes place in a formal setting (i.e classroom). Most students, however, can agree that real life education takes place outside the confines of the classroom. Despite years of studying in the classrooms of one of the best educational schools, I was shocked to discover the seemingly endless ways in which travel, as a form of education, changes the game. School curriculum is crucial. However, the lesson learned from traveling is second to none.

In this article, you’d discover how traveling improves learning. Also, you, as a parent, will learn how to engage in travel with your children.

How Does Travel Improve Learning?

Travel is a great way to continue learning. In fact, it provides more valuable life lessons than school because of the experience. Some of the richest learning experiences can be disguised as exploration and adventure.

Here are a few ways traveling improves learning:

Learn Also: Top 10 Tips to Improve Your Learning and Study Skills

1. You learn new languages while traveling

For a fact, English language is spoken almost everywhere in the world and will suit you best. However, when visiting a place, it is vital to learn their native language. Despite learning the basics through books, apps or videos; as the case may be, you can actually sharpen your skills by speaking with the real native speakers. Traveling can serve as a means of mastering that language. While traveling, you can also learn things like accent, slang and intonation in the most practical way.

2. You learn social skills

Do you find it difficult to start a conversation, make a presentation or speak in public? Then traveling will make your situation much easier. During travels, talking to a total stranger or asking for favour is a necessity. Thus, if you’re a bit shy or find it difficult to engage socially, traveling will change that.

3. You learn about other cultures

Traveling is not always to a foreign country. It could be to a different part of your own country. Cultures around the world vary. There are differences in cuisines, lifestyle and etiquette between different cultures. However, you can find many common points like shared love for art, nature and ancestors that unite all cultures. Understanding different cultures play a vital role in your education. 

4. You learn history, and about today’s world

Despite studying great stuff about civilization and major historical events in your history classes, nothing is better than traveling to historical sites and exploring the history and culture of that city. Engaging in a conversation with the locals will provide you with a whole new perspective concerning historical events.

Furthermore, travel teaches you as the world is today. In most cases, our attitudes towards distant people and cultures are often influenced by what we see in the media. Often times, what we’re fed through the media can be biased. Thus, traveling is a way to really get to know them.

5. Traveling aids your self-improvement

Travel is one of life’s greatest teachers. Not just on history, language or politics, but also yourself. Self-education is probably the most vital aspect of education that travel offers. While traveling, you’d get to discover your true potential (i.e who you really are and the things you really like).

As earlier stated, travel is also another form of education. Parents can as well maximize this form of learning for their children. While traveling, children are exposed to new scenarios and problems that need to be solved. As the go through these experiences, their senses are challenged. This poses a very vital question –

How do you Engage in Travel with Children?

There are numerous ways parents can engage their children while traveling. Observe a few below:

• Read ahead about the destination together
• Learn some of the language together
• Ask and respond to questions with your children thereby modelling an inquiring mind
• Throw in a little refection at the end of each day

Without wasting much time, let us quickly observe

5 Tips to Foster Learning While Traveling

• Set your goals

As you set out to travel, what are your learning goals? How do you plan to achieve them? You must plan your travel experiences. Once you have a clear cut idea of your goals, it becomes easier to plan activities for your benefit.

• Read Ahead About the Destination

Before you leave for your destination, you can look at the map to identify the various islands, fun places etc., located in this part of the world. You can read about the history, science, culture and overall background of the places you plan to visit. Also, you can discover special sights of different areas using Google Earth. Activities like this help strengthen your anticipation or prediction skills. Thus, increasing your intellectual engagement.

Learn More: Travel Guide for Students Going to the USA

• Learn Some of the Language

You can learn some of the language to help open up aspects of the culture you have never experienced. You can start with the basics. There are quite a number of interactive language apps you can download to start learning the basics of a new language. Learning to speak the language of the locals is a sign of respect. People are more likely to open up to you, further supporting your learning opportunities.

• Shape the Mind that Asks Questions

By asking and responding to questions you foster new knowledge, as well as engaging in critical and creative thinking. For instance, as you walk down the streets in the city you’re visiting, ensure you notice what is going on around and ask open ended questions which open up much learning about the place.

An example of open ended question would be: “Why are houses built this way?”

• Think for a Moment at the End of Each Day

While traveling, there are so many learning experiences. Thus, you will need to give yourself time to stop and think about them.

Learning is a life journey that extends far beyond the walls of a traditional classroom. Traveling can help you learn to think critically and appreciate the world around you.

Does this article meet your immediate needs? If yes, do well to share this article with your friends. If you have further questions, leave a comment in the comment box and we will get back to you as soon as possible.