Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Photography
Travelling offers you the chance to develop your skills as a photographer - after all almost
everyone takes pictures to remember their travels. But if you've always dreamed of turning
professional, it's a chance to practice.
You could be innovative by contacting a local newspaper or magazine and asking if they'll
let you accompany one of their photographers on assignments. You won't be paid but you'll
learn a lot and it might give you pictures to add to your portfolio.
Languages
You learn a language much more easily and quickly if you're living in the country where
it's spoken, but there's more than one reason to learn a new language. There's more to a lan-
guage than just words: most language courses will include local culture, history, geography,
religion, customs and current affairs - as well as food and drink.
Gemma Rescorla, director of Live Languages Abroad, told us: “Learning a language abroad
is a life skill by which you can reap so many rewards. Not only is it an amazing feeling to
be able to communicate with someone in their own language, it also: improves your cultur-
al awareness; enhances your learning ability, increases your confidence; helps your career
prospects; gives you a taste for travel; and the opportunity to make life-long friends from all
around the world.”
Think laterally about where you want to study. Spanish is spoken in many countries around
the world, so you could opt for a Spanish course in South America, rather than Spain, and
then go travelling around the country, or learn Portuguese in Brazil, where it's the main lan-
guage, or perhaps French in Canada.
Be aware though that if you learn a language outside its original country you may learn a
particular dialect that is only spoken in a specific region of the country as a whole. It may
even be considered inferior by some people (or not understood) elsewhere in the country.
