I have been studying
English for a while now and I can say
that the better my English has become, the more I enjoy traveling. I probably
love to travel as much as you do. In fact, going to new places and meeting new
people from different countries and cultures is one of the things I enjoy the
most. However, Iet me tell you that when you can’t speak English, it’s
tough. It becomes a great limitation. Apart from making communication
difficult, being unable to speak the language hinders you from getting where
you want with ease, not to mention what you need when you get there. It was
embarrassing for me when I sometimes did things in the wrong way just because I
wasn’t able to seek assistance from locals due to the language barrier.
In most countries,
English is the language most spoken even though it is not the native one. In
fact, you can travel around the world and socialize with people everywhere if
you can speak English. Generally, the advantages that come with learning this
language for vacationers are many, valuable, and varied.
Why travel lovers should learn English?
English is the
language most vacationers use with others. While traveling, you will likely
spend most of your time connecting with other people on a bus, in a hotel, at
airports, on the streets, and in other places. Most of those encountered are
tourists who can communicate in this language such that socializing becomes
more effective for you if you can speak it as well.
When speaking to
visitors who speak English, immigration officers, hotel staff, taxi drivers,
and others use it to communicate. If you can speak it yourself, you will not
have any problems dealing with the locals. Therefore, if you are planning to visit
a country where the native language is not the same as yours, it is advisable
to learn English (at least the basics). Since it is an international language,
you will most likely find someone who can speak it, making communicating much
easier.
Advantages of learning English for travelers
If you understand and speak English, there are many
advantages you will enjoy as a tourist:
- Ease
of expressing yourself:
Expressing yourself becomes easier everywhere you go. It is simple to ask
for something and even explain what you want. For instance, if there are
complications at the airport, you can easily clarify them. In the hotel,
you can ask for food and specify your preferred room. English enables you
to get what you want and the best value for your money.
- Making
new friends becomes easier:
When you can speak a common language, interacting with others becomes less
challenging. English, for example, enables you to socialize with the
locals in your tour destination and learn something about their lifestyle.
This way, you will easily meet new people and establish relationships.
- It
enhances confidence: When you
know that you can easily express yourself and even make new friends, your
confidence improves during travel. Since you hear what the locals are
saying, and can even ask questions, you ensure your safety by avoiding
dangerous places, for example. When you learn English, getting insight
into other people, their lifestyles, and recommended tourist areas becomes
easy, thus enhancing your confidence.
- Better
experiences: Knowing the
basics of the English language can assist you with every day pleasantries
and crucial phrases frequently used while traveling. You are bound to have
better experiences as anytime you go to a new place, you will need
assistance from the locals. Even if they do not speak the language well,
they most probably will understand the basics enough to assist you.
- Independence: Tours are great, but I personally
prefer to organize my own experiences. I can go to the places I prefer and
stay for as long as I want. Not all activities offered on tours are for
me, and they are usually done in a rush. When my English was not good
enough, I was restricted to such organized tours and I had to rely on the
guides. Now that I can speak and understand English, I have the freedom to
visit and explore places more independently.
As a universal
language, English is often used in tourist areas. Thus, even if you do not have
a local tour guide, you will not have any problems getting to the attractions
you want to visit. By reading signs, you can also book accommodations and
obtain other services in a foreign country without hiring a tour guide. This
will save you money since hiring a tour guide can be costly in some regions. In
addition, when you can speak a universal language, even bargaining for products
and services becomes possible. This will not be the case if you do not speak
English.
You learn more in a
foreign country when you speak English
Perhaps there are
things you have always wondered about life in a foreign country. When you learn
English, understanding the local culture becomes easier because you can
interact more effectively and make enquiries. As a traveler inquisitive about
different cultures, you no doubt want to learn new things.
Generally speaking,
there are many reasons for and advantages of learning English as a tourist. The
most important point of all is that when you learn English, you are able to
travel in a more straightforward manner on your own and overcome the major
difficulties and challenges that face those who do not speak it well or at all.
