A human connection - whether it’s brief and in passing, or deeper and more lasting, is a wonderful side product of travelling in another country. Those connections help us learn so much more than a guidebook or top ten list can ever tell us, and are often the most memorable parts of a trip. Sometimes a language barrier prevents this connection and so in Episode 277 we talk about the ways knowing a local language, whether just a few words or fluently, can make a huge difference to the quality of your experience.
As well as fabulous anecdotes shared by members Anuj, Justin and Carolanna, members of the Thoughtful Travellers community, I also speak with three guests. Eliza Raymond summarises perfectly how a common language is so connecting, and then James Patterson gives a great example of learning some words of local language during his stays on Orkney. Finally, Kayra Martinez, who’s spent a lot of time studying many languages, discusses the value of language learning not just amongst travellers but amongst refugees as well, in the context of a northern Greece refugee camp where she’s spent a lot of time working. Throughout the episode I also make mention of some of the academic research on the topic, carried out by Portuguese researchers.
Links:
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
269 Working in Tourism and Travel
268 Finding Yourself in Danger on Your Travels
267 Specialised Group Travel
266 LGBTQIA Travel
265 A Year Without Travel
264 Celebrity Encounters on Your Travels
263 Travelling for Work: Can You Be A Thoughtful Traveller?
262 Josie Major and Debbie Clarke: Deep Dive into Thoughtful Travel
261 Languages and Accents
260 Berlin: Travel Bringing History to Life
259 Being Less Tourist, More Traveller
258 Making Connections When We Travel
257 Travel Writing World x The Thoughtful Travel Podcast
256 Travel Teaches Us So Much
255 Vincie Ho: Deep Dive into Thoughtful Travel
254 Migrating to Australia
253 Walking the World
252 Ethical Wildlife Tourism: Elephants Are Many Shades of Grey
251 Penny Rafferty: Deep Dive Into Thoughtful Travel
Book Club 13: All the Way to the Tigers by Mary Morris
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