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Making the Most of Language Learning on School Trips

The School Travel Company (6 March 2020)

John Gardiner is the Managing Director of The School Travel Company, a tour operator specialising in educational trips in destinations all over the world.

Today’s teachers of languages face something of a challenge: persuading their students to invest time and commitment into learning to speak another language. It is a challenge that teachers are embracing with increasingly innovative and proactive solutions.

Faced with reluctant teenagers who repeat messages such as, “The Europeans all talk our English much better than we can talk their language, which is why we don’t bother,” teaching professionals are constantly searching for arguments and incentives that will persuade their students that language learning is just as relevant to their education as maths, science, English and other subjects.

The importance of motivating children to learn a second language cannot be overstressed. We all know that universities still set a high value on a potential student’s ability to read and write something other than English. And, it goes without saying that actually being able to talk in another language puts your students streets ahead of their counterparts when applying for a job on the international platform.

It is beholden upon every school to find ways to ignite an interest and hunger for language learning among their pupils, and to bring this subject back to the centre stage.

Learning in Context

Study after study continues to demonstrate that one of the best ways to inspire a child and to interest him or her in learning is to get them out of the classroom and into an environment that is conducive to the specific area of learning. Bringing any subject to life enhances understanding and often leads to increased motivation. By organising school trips to other countries, young people are transported to a place where they can be fully absorbed in the culture and language without even thinking about it.

Benefits of School Trips to Foreign Countries

Increase Confidence

In the United Kingdom we are by nature quite reserved and we certainly don’t like to make mistakes. This is a cultural commonality among us and unfortunately has an inhibiting effect on our language learning. When children are taken to a place in which they hear people speak in the language they are learning and are encouraged by locals to have a go, they will be more motivated to try. On such trips, teachers often split the group of students, meaning that an individual may not feel so intimidated to try a sentence or two, as they will be less fearful of appearing silly in front of their peers.

By challenging themselves students will learn more about who they are and the achievements they make, and hopefully this will be transferred to other aspects of their continued educational and personal development.

Speaking in Context

If pupils speak the language they are learning in real-life situations, they are often incentivised by a sense of empowerment when they are able to make themselves understood. While they may make mistakes, they are more likely to remember the mistake and correct it the next time; this is down to the fact that the error was made in context.

Starting with simple exchanges in shops and then encouraging students to continue conversations with the people running the hotel they are staying in, helps them grow in confidence. Every conversation has a purpose and can give the student a great sense of achievement when they get a response. Such an experience has far more impact than the role play scenario in a classroom where children often feel inhibited by the anxiety of embarrassing themselves in front of their peers.

Encountering New Cultures

When we talk about the benefits of school trips to other countries, alongside a student’s learning we are talking about the impact it has on them personally. Many youngsters don’t have the opportunity to develop acceptance and tolerance for other cultures and yet this is the basis for positive social and professional success. Those same youngsters may choose not to learn French or German, for example, because neither bears any relevance to them, but once they have visited France or Germany, they may well have their eyes opened and be inspired to learn more.

Lessons in Situ

While learning by absorption is a real privilege for students, a language focused school trip can also include structured lessons to support learning. In those circumstances where a student can not only have time in the classroom, but also have the opportunity to join in with sports, social events and other interesting activities their language practice is enhanced.

 

There is no doubt that school trips offer the perfect platform for encouraging the youngsters of today to engage with language learning. Strong foundations are more likely to sustain future growth when it comes to learning a subject and if we can persuade our teenagers of the benefits of having a language string to their bow, we know that they will also grow in confidence and success as adult individuals.

Posted in: Language Learning
University of Strathclyde Education Scotland British Council Scotland The Scottish Government
SCILT - Scotlands National centre for Languages