Travel and cultural understanding (ESL lesson)

Travel and culture are not just about visiting new places; they’re about understanding different ways of life, histories, cuisines, and languages. For an ESL learner, this topic is particularly beneficial because:

• Cultural sensitivity: Gain insights into how to respect and appreciate diversity, which is crucial in our increasingly globalized world.
• Practical skills: Learn to understand engaging in cultural exchanges and how empathy applies in a cross-cultural aspect.
• Vocabulary expansion: You’ll learn specialized vocabulary related to travel, customs, and cultural nuances.

This lesson is a basic outline for a class on the intersection of travel and culture.

Articles for pre-class reading

• Travel is said to increase cultural understanding. Does it?
• Travels Through Culture: Understanding its Influence on Tourism

Class objectives

• Develop critical thinking skills by analyzing cultural differences and their impact on travel.
• Enhance vocabulary related to travel and culture.
• Improve fluency and confidence in discussing travel experiences and cultural observations.
• Practice various language skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Class activities

1. Warm-up discussion:
   • Start with a free-flowing discussion about recent travel experiences or dream destinations.
   • Encourage the student to share personal anecdotes and opinions about cultural encounters.
2. Vocabulary enrichment:
   • Introduce advanced vocabulary related to travel (e.g., itinerary, sojourn, expedition) and culture (e.g., cultural assimilation, cross-cultural communication, ethnocentrism).
   • Discuss the nuances of these words and their usage in different contexts.
3. Cultural comparison:
   • Choose two contrasting cultures (e.g., Western vs. Eastern, urban vs. rural) and discuss their differences in terms of customs, traditions, values, and social norms.
   • Encourage the student to analyze how these cultural differences might impact travel experiences.
4. Travel writing analysis:
   • Read excerpts from travel literature or articles that highlight cultural encounters and reflections.
   • Discuss the author’s perspective, use of language, and insights into the cultures they encountered.
5. Debate (optional):
   • Organize a debate on a topic related to travel and culture, such as the impact of tourism on local cultures or the ethics of cultural appropriation.
   • Encourage the student to take a stance and support their arguments with evidence and reasoning.
6. Presentation (optional):
   • Assign the student a presentation topic related to a specific culture or travel experience.
   • Encourage them to research and present their findings in a clear and engaging manner.
7. Role-playing (optional):
   • Engage in role-playing activities that simulate real-life travel situations, such as interacting with locals, navigating public transportation, or ordering food in a foreign language.
   • Focus on effective communication strategies and cultural sensitivity.
8. Writing task (optional):
   • Assign a writing task, such as a travel blog entry, a reflective essay on a cultural experience, or a comparative analysis of two cultures.
   • Provide feedback on the student’s writing, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and organization.

Additional resources

• Authentic travel videos or documentaries
• Cultural studies articles and books
• Language learning apps and websites
• Travel blogs and websites

Assessment

• Assess the student’s writing skills and vocabulary usage.
• Evaluate the student’s presentation skills and content.
• Observe the students’ participation and fluency in discussions.

Remember to

• Create a comfortable and engaging learning environment.
• Provide constructive feedback and encouragement.
• Tailor the class to the student’s specific interests and learning style.

Vocabulary

•  Breathtaking (adjective): Extremely beautiful, remarkable, or amazing.

•  Circumnavigate (verb): To travel around the world by sea or air. (also can mean to avoid dealing with something difficult or unpleasant)

•  Confluence (noun): A flowing together of people or things; a meeting or gathering.

•  Contemporary (adjective): Living or occurring at the same time; modern.

•  Cross-cultural communication (noun): Communication between people from different cultures.

•  Cultural assimilation (noun): The process by which a person or group’s culture comes to resemble that of another group.

•  Cultural heritage (noun): The legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society.

•  Cultural relativism (noun): The practice of judging a culture by its own standards rather than by the standards of one’s own culture.

•  Discover (verb): To find (something unexpected or while looking for something else).

•  Disembark (verb): To leave a ship, aircraft, or train.

•  Diverse (adjective): Showing a great deal of variety.

•  Enclave (noun): A distinct group of people or things within a larger one.

•  Ethnocentrism (noun): The belief in the inherent superiority of one’s own ethnic group or culture.

•  Exotic (adjective): Originating in or characteristic of a distant, foreign country.

•  Expedition (noun): A journey undertaken for a specific purpose, like exploration.

•  Explore (verb): To travel around a new, unknown place to learn about it.

•  Folklore (noun): The traditional beliefs, customs, and stories of a community, passed through the generations by word of mouth.

•  Homogenous (adjective): Consisting of things that are the same or of a similar kind.

•  Indigenous (adjective): Originating in and naturally occurring in a particular place; native.

•  Itinerary (noun): A detailed plan for a journey.

•  Jet lag (noun): The fatigue and disorientation caused by crossing time zones.

•  Layover (noun): A break between two parts of a journey.

•  Mores (noun): The essential or characteristic customs and conventions of a society.

•  Multicultural (adjective): Relating to or characterized by a mixture of cultures.

•  Odyssey (noun): A long and eventful journey.

•  Picturesque (adjective): Visually attractive, especially in a charming or quaint way.

•  Remote (adjective): Situated far from the main centers of population; distant.

•  Rituals (noun): A religious or solemn ceremony consisting of a series of actions performed according to a prescribed order.

•  Roam (verb): To travel or wander around a wide area.

•  Secular (adjective): Not connected with religious or spiritual matters.

•  Serene (adjective): Calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

•  Social norms (noun): The unwritten rules that govern social behavior.

•  Sojourn (noun): A temporary stay.

•  Taboos (noun): A social or religious custom prohibiting or restricting a particular practice or association with a particular person, place, or thing.

•  Traditional (adjective): Existing in or as part of a long-established custom, habit, or belief.

•  Transcontinental (adjective): Crossing a continent.

•  Traverse (verb): To travel across or through.

•  Venture (verb): To go somewhere that is new or dangerous.

•  Wander (verb): To walk or move in a leisurely, aimless way.

In summary

In conclusion, exploring the intersection of travel and culture offers ESL learners a rich and multifaceted opportunity to enhance their language skills while deepening their understanding of the world. Through this lesson, students not only expand their vocabulary with terms like “itinerary,” “cultural assimilation,” and “ethnocentrism,” but also develop practical skills such as cross-cultural communication and empathy. By engaging in activities like discussions, cultural comparisons, and role-playing, learners gain the confidence to navigate diverse cultural landscapes, both linguistically and socially. Ultimately, this class fosters critical thinking, cultural sensitivity, and fluency, empowering students to connect with others across borders and appreciate the beauty of global diversity. Travel and culture, as we’ve seen, are more than just destinations—they are gateways to personal growth and mutual understanding.