Travelling to an English-speaking country? 6 simple things you need to know

A woman with a backpack stood in a airport looking at one of the many boards
Reading time: 2 minutes

Regardless of where you’re travelling, it‘s definitely worth learning some basic English, and you won’t be alone: (20% of the world). Of course, if you’re visiting an English-speaking country like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, it’s especially useful to brush up on your English.

Here are six simple things you need to know when travelling to English-speaking countries:

Travel tips for English speaking countries
Play
Privacy and cookies

By watching, you agree app can share your viewership data for marketing and analytics for one year, revocable by deleting your cookies.

Be polite

It sounds obvious, but remembering to say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ will help in most travel situations. British people are famously fond of their manners, so if you’re visiting the UK, it’s particularly important to make sure you “queue” behind everyone else.

Learn the currency

There are many ways to ask the price of something, but your wallet won’t be grateful if you don’t understand the reply. Take time to understand the slang words for money in the countries you’re visiting. For example, a $1 coin in Canada is referred to as a ‘loonie’, and in the U.S., a five-cent coin is almost always called a ‘nickel’.

Don’t rely on your smartphone for directions

Even if you have a smartphone, it’s easy to get lost in a foreign place. Local people will often know the quickest and cheapest routes to places and may even have some good sightseeing suggestions that you won’t find in a guidebook. If you don’t understand what they’re saying, don’t be embarrassed to ask them to speak slowly or repeat themselves.

Introduce yourself

If you like meeting new people while traveling, it’s important to know how to speak to them. You may have been taught that ‘How do you do?’ is a polite way to introduce yourself. In reality, most English speakers don’t use this phrase very often as it’s seen as old-fashioned and overly formal. It’s much better to say ‘pleased to meet you’ or ‘good to meet you’ when you’re meeting someone for the first time.

Even if you’re traveling to a non-English speaking country, having some knowledge of English is always useful. International airports, for example, almost always display their signage in English alongside the local language(s).

Don’t be afraid to ask about customs or etiquette

If you’re unsure about the proper etiquette in a given situation, don’t hesitate to ask. Locals will appreciate your effort and are usually happy to explain what’s appropriate. This can help you avoid any unintentional faux pas and make your interactions more pleasant and respectful. Even if its for simple things like, 'Where do I order at the bar?' or 'Where should I leave my wet umbrella?' are perfectly fine to ask.

Observe and adapt

When in a new environment, observing what others around you are doing can provide valuable clues about local etiquette and expected behavior. Whether it’s how people order food, navigate public transportation, or interact in social settings, taking cues from locals can help you blend in and avoid misunderstandings.

For example, if you see everyone standing on a certain side of public transport, there's probably a good reason for that which you can follow and blend in.

Equip yourself for a rewarding travel experience

By equipping yourself with these simple yet effective tips, you’ll not only navigate your travels more smoothly but also enrich your overall experience. Remember, the effort you put into learning and practicing English will be met with appreciation and open doors to new opportunities and friendships. Safe travels.

Read our posts 'Essential English phrases to blend in like a local on your holiday' and 'Language learning tips for international students'

More blogs from app

  • A teacher and student in a classroom looking at a laptop.

    Improving professional development with 'Teaching with the GSE'

    By
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Leonor Corradi, MA is an experienced teacher of English and teacher trainer. As such, Leonor hasconducted workshops and delivered talks on best-practice teaching to ensure that learning really happens. The Global Scale of English has become a unique resource that clearly addresses the relationship between teaching and learning.

    Are you an experienced teacher looking for a tool to boost your teaching effectiveness? Or perhaps you're a novice educator seeking new methods for teaching English. Whatever the case may be, the '' course is your ultimate guide to mastering teaching with the Global Scale of English (GSE).

    "Tell me and I forget, teach me and I remember, involve me and I learn." - Benjamin Franklin.

    This quote encapsulates the crux of the 'Teaching with the GSE' course. A comprehensive professional development program designed to bridge the gap between teaching and learning.

    Many teachers are familiar with various scales, particularly the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). However, few may have delved deeply into its intricacies, as its connection to everyday teaching might seem somewhat remote. Each level of the CEFR provides a snapshot of learners' capabilities, while teachers are responsible for crafting the narrative that illustrates how students progress from one level to another. In this metaphor, the Global Scale of English (GSE) serves as a valuable script that educators can utilize to facilitate their students' progress.

    About the 'Teaching with the GSE' course

    The 'Teaching with the GSE' course offers educators a treasure trove of tools to assist learners in their language learning journey. Here is a sneak peek of what you can expect from the course.

    The GSE and the CEFR

    The course starts with an insightful introduction to the GSE and the GSE Toolkit. By the end of this section, you'll understand the relationship and distinctions between the GSE and CEFR.

    Learning Objectives

    The training course addresses the role of learning objectives in teaching and learning. It also helps teachers taking the course set learning objectives. They will, in turn, help their learners set their own learning objectives. Setting language learning objectives often results in students being much more involved and motivated to learn and make progress.

    The GSE Toolkit

    The GSE Toolkit is an incredible resource for teachers, learners, department heads and coordinators. The course shows how user-friendly it is and how it helps users personalize their own goals and monitor them.

    Course materials alignment to GSE

    The GSE is a general scale in that it is not course-based and can be used with materials of all sorts. However, those materials aligned to the GSE offer different resources that can help teachers in different areas: planning, teaching, assessing, monitoring learners progress, among others.

    Improving your professional development and student's classroom experience

    Teachers worldwide have already started using the GSE. This course will help them see how to use it for more effective teaching, lesson planning, assessment, and curriculum design. They will become aware of how many great, unforgettable experiences they can create together with their learners.

  • A woman on her phone smiling outdoors in a city

    Understanding accents and their role in language learning

    By
    Reading time: 4 minutes

    Accents are a fascinating aspect of language that can reveal a lot about a person's background and experiences. For language learners, accents often become a central focus, sometimes to the detriment of more important language skills. In this post, we’ll explore what accents are, why people have them, and why intelligibility is more important than mastering an accent.

  • A teenage girl smiling and doing her homework or studying at home.

    Creative writing exercises for English language learners

    By app Languages
    Reading time: 3.5 minutes

    Engaging in creative writing is one effective way to improve your English language skills. It allows for artistic expression and personal flair, making it a unique way to put your imagination into words. Additionally, creative writing can draw from the author’s life and experiences, providing a personal touch to the narrative. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, creative writing can help you enhance your vocabulary, grammar and overall language proficiency.

    Creative writing exercises can also benefit other forms of writing, such as business writing and technical writing, even though these are not typically considered creative writing. In this post, we’ll explore various creative writing exercises that are designed to make learning English fun and engaging, as well as improve writing skills.