Find
out why, below:
- Immersion
in the real world – The value of real-world learning
cannot be understated. Students learn best through active participation,
where they can connect with the world hands-on; research has shown this.
When a child travels with their school to Singapore, Greece, or New York, they
can experience vastly different cultures for themselves, enriching their
understanding of the world around them. They can even practise budgeting
(for purchasing souvenirs!) and other important real-world skills, like
communication and critical thinking. Plus, as educational
school trips to Italy, France, China, and other
popular destinations can last for a week or
more, students can even immerse themselves in a new language! The
opportunities for learning are limitless.
- Cultural
exposure – Expanding on the cultural exchange that visiting other
countries can bring, school trips overseas are an effective way to
facilitate cultural exposure. Children can visit museums, historical
sites, local stores, festivals and much more; unique locations that might
be very unlike those they have ever experienced at home. Not only does this encourage a
sense of cultural appreciation, but it also helps to provide students with
new interests and more diverse points of view. From admiring and
recreating Grecian pottery to living in the bustling world of South Korea and
embracing K-Pop, children will learn that the world is beautifully diverse
and take the lessons learned abroad with them for a lifetime.
- Independence
and responsibility – By leaving the comforts of home
behind, students on school trips abroad often need to learn greater
independence and take on greater responsibility for themselves. Navigating
streets abroad, working as a team to complete activities, being sure to
listen to their guide or teacher; these requirements foster independence,
decision-making, and adaptability. Ultimately, children must learn
independence to grow and develop into adulthood, and these school trips
facilitate this.
- Confidence
– With independence comes greater confidence. Confident children are freer
to emphasise with others and to engage with their studies, identifying
with stronger moral and emotional values. Stepping out of a comfort zone
is intimidating even for adults, so learning how to do so in youth is an
absolute must for development. Facing new experiences does more than just
open your mind to better studying upon returning home – students can begin
to find out who they really are!
- Memory
and retention – School trips at home can be memorable
and fun, but the entire experience of a school trip abroad is undoubtedly
unforgettable. From the thrill of boarding a plane to travelling with their
best friends, and then visiting meaningful locations – like a cultural
landmark, such as the Chiang Kai-Sek Memorial Hall in Taiwan or the Taj
Mahal in India – students on school trips abroad will take their memory
and retention to the maximum extent possible. The potential for immersive
and real-world learning furthers this. In many cases, a hands-on
experience is far more likely to be remembered than information gleaned
from a PowerPoint in a classroom.
- Stress
relief and happiness – Happy
children can expect greater cognitive development, communication skills,
creativity, and much more. Therefore, the stress relief and happiness
provided by a school trip abroad can work wonders in encouraging a child’s
growth. While great attendance and homework are a must, learning doesn’t
have to be restricted to the classroom, and for some children, too much
classroom learning can be quite stressful indeed. Taking children out of
this structured environment and into the wider world can have a magical
effect – such educational and
enjoyable experiences can contribute to overall wellbeing, both mentally
and physically.
Ultimately,
the best school trips abroad can have all these benefits, and so many more.
Of
course, if you are a key decision-maker for a school, much will also depend on how
you organise and put together the trips you intend to take with your
pupils. Fortunately, there are many reputable companies out there that can do
this work for you, drawing upon wide-ranging and in-depth experience in the
specialised field of planning school trips.
Often,
these educational journeys can be carefully curated to the curriculum at your
school. This means that, even in light of all the fun-filled activities, your students
can also continue to learn what they need to learn – they will simply be doing
so in an even more enjoyable and kinetic way.
Photo by Asia Culture Center: https://www.pexels.com/photo/school-trip-in-town-18717968/ |
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