You hear it a lot - something along the lines of ‘travel is the best teacher.’ And it is - or can be.
Of course you can absolutely travel and learn very little. Sometimes you want to travel to relax and hit up a beach to recharge, or are heading to a familiar destination that you already know well.
But most travel involves the opportunity to learn in a truly authentic way. Whether you are planning your next trip around learning or simply plan to learn by acciedent as you go, here are some things to consider.
How Do We Learn More When we Travel?
Let’s break it down and explore why travel is such a boost to learning. Here are a few ways that travel helps us learn:
Real-World Learning
The type of learning that takes place when you travel is by definition real world learning. Yes - you can read about the Acropolis, but standing in front of it or listening to a tours guide describe the history right there helps to solidify understanding and put your learning into a real life context.
Language Acquisition
There is a massive difference between learning the grammtical structure of a language and memorizing the rules and trying to navigate a city with limited language skills. Our earliest language acquisition is done with real world language learning. Travel allows you to mimic this environment by placing you in a situation where trying the new language is sometimes your only option.
Exposure to New Cultures
There is a world of difference between reading about cultural diversity and experiencing it firsthand. Of course you can travel and not actually experience new cultures, but seeking out these experiences teaches you so much about the world and your place in it. This exposure not only fosters greater appreciation for other cultures but also enriches your own worldview, making you more adaptable and open-minded.
Historical and Geographical Context
Historic sites deepen the understanding of past events. Even just understanding how long it takes to get across a city adds perspective that helps you put history into a deeper context. Unique geographic features - like volcanic craters, underwater reefs, or glaciers are all best understood when you are experiencing them.
Personal Growth
Traveling presents challenges that can enhance self-esteem and resilience. This can be the challenging part of travel - like when something goes wrong or when you are faced with unfamiliar environments, language barriers, or unexpected situations. Learning to navigate difficulties, develop problem-solving skills can give you new confidence. As parents, this is something we’re acutely aware of and we know our kids watch our reactions to problems.
This summer we arrive in Dubrovnik for a week of adventure and our rental car had been given away. It was hot and we had to walk over and find a new rental car at a handful of other companies. We were frusterated and we ended up with a very small car for our family of 5. This was a learning experience for us in several ways but I know our kids watched us not panic and switch to problem solving mode.
Of course there are many other ways that we grow from travel - but when we decide whether it’s worth it to take our kids out of school for a trip it’s these benefits that I come back to again and again.
Have fun out there,
Gretchen
All this Yes!
This perfectly summarizes why we travel abroad with our kids. The language challenges and the culture have been valuable learning experiences for them. And, your point about the rental car and handling tough challenges in front of your kids is spot on. You never know what’s going to happen but how you manage those situations is a great learning experience for them.