This informal CPD article on International Language Tours was provided by Xcursion, a risk management training provider focused on school excursion & activity safety.
Immersive school travel experiences in other countries are really the only way to truly develop language skills. School language tours can provide a huge variety of benefits for students as they get to immerse themselves in a different culture and learn through first-hand experiences the culture, hear the language around them and interact with native speakers - all of which can never really be achieved in a classroom. This helps students gain a far deeper understanding and appreciation of the world around them and quickly build their language skills.
Improve language skills and learn culture
Being exposed to native speakers, different dialects, and real-life situations can help students become more confident and fluent in the language they’ve been studying and improve their understanding of the different culture and experiences of people in those countries.
Then there’s the food! You never really get to truly understand the flavours of a different culture until you’re actually there. While we might have some great take aways and restaurants in our own countries, they can be pale imitations of their host nations. For example, whilst we may love Japanese food and it is readily available throughout the world, nothing compares with the Japanese food you find right throughout Japan itself. Travelling as a school group provides the opportunity to try new foods that are cooked in an authentic and original way.
An international school language tour can also be a valuable bonding experience for students and teachers, as they will be traveling and experiencing new things together. This can strengthen relationships through shared experiences which then translates back into positive relationships in the classroom.
The Importance of planning and risk assessment
With all of these extremely positive experiences and outcomes from any sort of school language tour, we must also be mindful of the fact that taking students anywhere comes with many inherent risks. As a result, we must carefully plan for a range of contingencies when taking our students anywhere. These include location risks, medical risks, mental health risks, food and allergy risks, language barriers, different standards and attitudes to what we find in our own country as well as a range of other complex risks.
However, when we carefully plan for and manage these various risks, it makes every international langue tour we run far more effective and enjoyable for everyone. By taking an in-depth risk management planning approach to these tours it enables far greater educational outcomes for everyone.
A rewarding experience for students
International language tours are an amazing opportunity for students to develop their language skills and their personal skills - such as independence, adaptability, and confidence as they navigate together unfamiliar surroundings and experience new cultures and challenges along the way. They can be enriching and memorable experience which students will remember for the rest of their lives, broadening their horizons and inspiring them to learn more about different cultures, languages, and the world around them. They’re a great way to educate students beyond textbooks and classrooms, so they can experience the real world and gain a better understanding their own role in it as a global citizen.
We hope this article was helpful. For more information from Xcursion, please visit their CPD Member Directory page. Alternatively, you can go to the CPD Industry Hubs for more articles, courses and events relevant to your Continuing Professional Development requirements.
