Traveling and Learning a Language

What do traveling and learning a language have in common? Is it possible to compare these two activities which, at first sight, are so different?

We are sure it is not only possible but also desirable. And, to establish that comparison, it is essential that we resort precisely to one of the first and fundamental tools that will empower our undertaking of either of these two adventures: imagination.

When we travel somewhere and when we learn a foreign language, for whatever reason, imagination expands our horizon and multiplies our opportunities, even without us realizing it. The more we develop and train the ability to project possible situations, paths and attitudes, to make intuitive associations and find various ways to understand and connect with the context, the greater our chances of living an interesting and inspiring experience and, above all, one that also literally expands our world.

Let’s get to work, then!

A good dose of imagination has allowed us to identify, in particular, the aspects that we present below and that, in our opinion, are common to the activities of traveling and learning a new language. Surely additional points of similarity can be identified; here we propose just a few, perhaps the most obvious ones, so that you can later imagine and share with us what you yourself have discovered.

Common Features ↓↓↓↓	Traveling	Learning a New Language
≈ The Objective: What do we do it for?	To carry out professional activities, have a vacation, live or study in another country, to better understand a hobby, accompany another person, satisfy an adventurous or curious spirit, etc.? The possibilities are many and diverse, and much of what we experience during the trip could (or could not) depend on the purpose we have. Is it essential to set an objective before traveling? Not always. There are people who travel simply because they love traveling, and they do so without even itineraries (which doesn’t prevent them at all from having a great time!).	In order to be able to read specific texts from a particular area of knowledge, to communicate orally with foreigners, travel abroad, translate or interpret, to inquire about specific hobbies or to have more chances of getting a job, etc.? The same as what happens with traveling, having a more or less clear idea of what we want to achieve when learning a language could streamline the search for more adequate paths to reach our destination. Also, there are those who find pleasure in learning or in languages per se, and so embark upon the adventure only on the basis of that simple but powerful desire.
≈ The Objective: What do we do it for?	The key question: What is it we mean when we speak of “objective”? To what extent could it be useful to “break down” a major objective into closer and more easily achievable goals? Could there be any truth in the old saying that “all roads lead to Rome”?
≈ The “Essentials”: That which we should have with us all the time.	The “TPM Kit”: (ticket, passport and money).	Same TPM Kit! (only redefined!): the ticket will be our desire to learn the new language, which will allow us, wherever we are, to renew our commitment to reach, step by step, a little further; on the other hand, if we always keep the passport of our flexibility updated, we will be able to cross any border/overcome any obstacle that will come our way. Finally, patience will be the currency that will grant us access to countless quotas of enthusiasm or, at least, satisfaction: it will be our money.
≈ The “Recommended Luggage”: That which would be useful to us, even if not strictly necessary.	A good backpack or suitcase with the adequate pieces of clothing, and an itinerary with the places we want to visit (is it possible to travel without the necessary clothing?).	A good dose of energy (understood specifically as the ability of a body to perform an activity), and a certain level of dedication (i. e., a totally flexible studying habit, which may change as we go).
≈ Contacts: People who can make everything easier and more entertaining.	During a trip, being able to count on people who have visited or lived in the destination is as valuable as all the gold in the world (surely you can imagine why?).	Connecting, virtually or in person, with people who know the language we are studying will always be a great plus, among other reasons because they will give us the opportunity to practice it in between classes.
≈ Acceptance of uncertainty and unpredictability: A predisposition that tends more to discovery than to confirmation.	It is not surprising that the most memorable and enriching legs of a trip are those in which our initial plan or itinerary was “overridden” by circumstances that were beyond our control (canceled flights, delays, unforeseen events of any kind, etc.).	When you learn a new language, it is not uncommon to feel a relative disorientation, which can be liberating if it is embraced, with honest acceptance, as a typical step in the process, as long as it takes place within a climate of intimacy and trust. Opening ourselves up to the didactics of “games” then becomes a comforting strategy, with an almost total guarantee of leaving the experience having been modified in some way; that is, having learned something!
≈ A Safe Haven: A spot where we can regain our strength, refresh our senses and create space-time for our experiences to begin to “decant” inside us.	No matter how the trip has been going, we will always have to have a space to rest, eat, sleep, reschedule activities, organize photos, start gestating memories, etc.	Even the most prolific and popular speakers of any language have needed to distance themselves from words, texts and ideas, in order to gain a little perspective and effectiveness. Fortunately, learning no longer means “depositing knowledge” into the brain, continuously and mechanically. We can appreciate more clearly the power of words the more we are aware of the silence between them.
≈ The Map is Not the Territory: Never ever!	Neither Google Maps nor the best GPS can ever be full substitutes for the route we are travelling. Can they be of help? Yes, of course. As long as we keep in mind that they only indicate the path, they are not the path itself.	Teaching methodologies, learning procedures, audios, textbooks, etc. are tools that should encourage us, first of all, to find our own method of studying and practicing the language.

Both traveling and learning a language open the doors to new worlds, literally: they put us in direct contact with novel contexts, which can even be experienced by us, occasionally, as very foreign to our daily lives. For this reason, they impel us to discover in ourselves a new way of looking at and understanding reality: common sense tells us that we cannot appreciate the true value of that which is different with the same glasses that we use to navigate the day to day of our ordinary lives.

Like all learning, like all destinies, the treasure we pursue lies not only at the point of arrival. There is much wealth waiting to be uncovered also in the unexpected shortcuts, detours or crossroads that we usually find along the way.

So, where are you planning to travel next? How are you getting ready? What culture are you starting to immerse yourself in through the new language you are studying? Have you been able to travel while learning?