The Importance of Learning Languages Through Experience
There is a particular emphasis on grammar and ‘proper’ vocabulary when learning languages in schools. This is obviously necessary to understand the building blocks of a language and the intended way to speak it, in order to be fluent. However, language evolves at an incredible speed and the curriculum cannot always keep up. This combined with common slang, abbreviations and a change in etiquette and meaning means that sometimes a school-taught language sounds completely different to an authentic conversation in the same language.
This not only negatively impacts a student’s confidence, but also their motivation to learn. Learning languages through endless tedious grammar lessons is no fun, we know that. Once a student understands the basic principles behind a language it is super important for them to converse with native speakers in a ‘normal’ environment. Immersive language learning has come extremely far with virtual reality simulations and advanced technology however, it will never truly compare to a real experience.
At The Learning Adventure we pride ourselves on offering all sorts of trips for students of all ages to help students learning languages. We don’t only focus on language but also immerse the students in the culture of the country, proven to improve motivation and a genuine interest in the learning. It may be anxiety-inducing for students to practice their chosen language with native speakers, however it is these moments in life, where we push ourselves out of our comfort zone, where we truly learn. These moments are also more likely to imprint themselves on our memory, therefore solidifying an important build up of vocabulary and proper pronunciation.
Take a look at the various trips we offer for students to gain crucial experience in their language, and the type of activities they will take part in:
Mandarin in China
An incredible 1 in 6 people in the world speak Mandarin, making it the most widely spoken language. More and more people are signing up to learn this beautiful language everyday and so we created a unique trip that will further students’ understanding of not only the language, but the unique and complex history and culture of china. Here’s some of the activities on offer:
- Mandarin lessons in Shanghai
- Eating traditional Chinese dishes in the city
- Evening cruise on the Huangpu river
- Walk down Hangzhou’s ancient street
- Visit the Temple of Heaven and take part in a tea ceremony
- Hike the Great Wall of China
French in France
The French language is a beautiful language and has fixated many romantics for years, and for good reason! France is home to many talented artists, from poets to painters, their cities are full of cultural experiences to take part in. French is a particularly difficult language because of the amount of slang and colloquial language used in conversation, meaning a trip there can really aid the students in understanding authentic conversation. Here’s some of the activities on offer:
- Climb the Eiffel Tower
- Take part in a lecture at Sorbonne University
- Visit the Academie Francais
- Have a French slang lesson
- Try acting in a French improv class
Spanish in Spain
Spanish is spoken all over the world, with it being the official language for over 20 countries! It is an extremely useful language to know and that’s why over 21 million people study Spanish as a foreign language. Many famous works of literature focus on Spain and the Spanish culture, and on our trip the students will find out why their culture has proved so popular all over the world. Here are some activities on offer:
- Civil War City tour of Madrid
- Watch a play at the Teatro Espanol
- Visit a bullring to learn about Bull fighting
- Spanish lessons in Barcelona
- Take part in a Flamenco dancing class
German in Berlin
This trip focuses on the profound history of this intriguing city. The students will learn about the past through visiting important locations in history, and then turn to the future by embracing the modern Berlin and all it’s famous for. During this trip we push the students to experience the language in innovative and fun ways, from a German football session to watching German stand up comedy. Here are some activities on offer:
- German language classes
- Visit key historic locations like Checkpoint Charlie and the Reichstag Building
- Cycle along Berlin Wall bike path
- Visit behind the scenes at Babelsberg Film Studios
- Try traditional dishes at German food markets
