“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.”
~ St. Augustine
English is very useful when you travel. I have traveled extensively, and English has helped me everywhere.
extensively: in a way that covers a large area or range
English is a global language. In fact, more people speak English as a second language than as a first! According to the World Economic Forum, over 1 billion people speak English as a foreign language and less than 400 million speak it as a first language.
What motivates you to study English?
Studying English without motivation is an uphill battle. If you aren’t interested in English, your motivation will be very low and you will be unlikely to improve or become fluent. Fluency requires dedication and passion.
uphill battle: difficult struggle
Overseas puts the “OV” in apOVen.
Traveling overseas means traveling to another country, often by plane over a sea. I am from the United States, but I live overseas. Have you ever traveled overseas?
We can substitute the word “abroad” for overseas. If you are planning to travel abroad, English will be very helpful in most places.
(*Not to abroad. This is a common mistake. You travel to a country, but not to abroad.)
For many, a desire to travel overseas provides motivation to study English.
English: Your Passport to the World
English is the global language used by travelers and people who work in hotels, airports, and the travel industry worldwide.
While it’s always a good idea to learn some basic expressions in the local language, you may not have time to become fluent before your trip.
In these situations, English is useful tool. Even if you don’t speak English well, with just a little English and gestures, you can communicate!
Travel English Resources
I’ve created a lesson with 10 travel phrasal verbs to get you started on your journey.
I’m a proud affiliate of Espresso English, where you can find a great free lesson related to conversations at the airport. It includes lots of useful vocabulary and phrases.
Check out (look at) this 9 minute YouTube video for 10 Essential English Travel Phrases by Eat Sleep Dream English if you’re keen to get started learning some English phrases to use when you travel.
check out: look at
keen: eager, ready
Why Travel?
One of the reasons people travel is to have new experiences. Traveling takes us away from the regular routines of our lives. Travel helps us focus on what is important in life.
Getting outside of our comfort zones can give us perspective and help us realize that many of the things we stress out about aren’t really worth our energy.
Traveling gives us a sense of freedom and wonder that can be hard to find in our daily lives. It exposes us to different cultures. It can be scary. It can be exciting.
When we travel, life is amplified.
Traveling heightens our senses. In some countries, it’s common for students to take a gap year to travel. Not only does it give them a break from academic studies, but it also broadens their horizons (increases knowledge, understanding, or experience) and helps them learn about the world. After all, there is more to life than just studying.
There’s a great big world of possibilities out there, just waiting to be discovered.
You might eat grasshoppers (chapulines) in Mexico, hold a baby kangaroo in Australia, hug a lion in Argentina, or get tips on how to jump from the original masters of the jump shot in Kenya: The Maasai Warriors!
English Pro Tip:
Use Google in English for vocabulary help. Anytime you come across an unfamiliar word, you can quickly find the meaning with Google’s define feature. For example, type “define gap year” into the search box for an instant explanation. Searching in Google Images is also a useful tool for certain words, like molluscs. Even searching gap year in images is useful!
For a free travel English lesson, check out Conversations in the Airport by Shayna at Espresso English. The information there is free, but if you decide to purchase one of Shayna’s courses or e-books, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend products and services that I trust and wish I had created myself. ?
Never stop learning!