ELC590

Article 1

6 Reasons Why Traveling Abroad is Important for Young People

Top 6 reasons to travel abroad while you are young:

1. You will Get Out of Your Comfort Zone Body 1 (A)

As young people most of us have a pretty established comfort zone. At home with mom and
dad, in a community that has known you for probably a good part of your life. You have your
established friends, activities, hangouts and possibly jobs. We become comfortable in these
daily roles and the idea of breaking out them can be scary and uncomfortable.

The problem is, you learn the most in uncomfortable, unfamiliar situations. In our daily
routines, you know how to act and respond to people and your surroundings. Being in a new
place, with different people, who hold different values and go about life differently (or not so
differently you may find) strips all that familiarity away.

It can be scary, but once you figure out that you can connect with people despite differences,
and you can navigate foreign environments, you become a smarter, more competent
individual. Embrace the discomfort. Search for it, because it is helping you grow.

2. Traveling Builds Confidence

As you conquer the obstacles of figuring out how to use public transit in a foreign country, or
asking for simple things in a grocery store, you are building the confidence and ability to
adapt in foreign situations. I remember moving to a country where I spoke little to none of the
language.

When I returned home, I moved across the country to a state where I had no family, friends
or connections. The prospect of that move may have intimidated me before living abroad,
but then I thought to myself, ‘Well, if I can do it abroad in a completely foreign system, I will
be just fine in a place where I at least share the language.’

You realize that you CAN do things, despite the obstacles and suddenly the obstacles seem
less obstructive and more like welcomed challenges.

3. You Will Develop Cultural Sensitivity

Being culturally sensitive is key in our globalizing world. It is not enough to say “people from
X country are like this.” It is important to look for underlying values that may explain a certain
behavior in order to practice cultural sensitivity. A good example is when I was in Spain
(especially in the south), where they take a 2-3 hour siesta and lunch in the middle of their
work day.

Many people view this cultural norm as the people just being lazy when it really has a lot
more to do with the fact that historically Spaniards value family facetime. Eating together as
a family is more important to them than maximizing work time by scarfing a sandwich down
at their desks.

Being aware of cultural values and norms is not only fascinating, but can help us understand
international issues and conflicts, or even relate to the cultural norms of a foreign business
partner. It is an important skill to be able to shift perspectives and see where someone else
is coming from.

4. You Can Adapt to Globalization

Whether you like it or not, with the internet and social media, we are globalizing quickly. It is
not unlikely that you would end up with a job that has you travel for business or take part in
conference calls with international business partners. In our globalizing world it is important
to be culturally sensitive and it can’t hurt to know a foreign language.

In the business world, having lived abroad can give you a competitive edge. Use the
confidence and cultural sensitivity that traveling helps you develop and helps it make you
successful.

5. Be Immersed in a Second (or Third) Language

Before I lived abroad I never truly understood the beauty of becoming fluent or even
proficient in another language. In the United States we don’t need to know another
language, or many would argue that. Once you travel abroad you realize that especially in
Europe, almost everyone you meet speaks at least two languages somewhat proficiently.

We in the States have a bit of a disadvantage since geographically we cannot country-hop

as easily as Europeans can. This is why traveling, especially for us, is even more important.
I would argue that in the globalizing world it really can only benefit you to speak another
language. Not to mention, it opens up a whole new world of people you can now connect
with and understand that you would never have gotten the chance to get to know had you
never learned their language.

6. Infinite Opportunities to Network

I have studied and worked abroad and made some incredibly valuable connections. If you
are interested in working internationally or even just having a couch to stay on in a country
that you love, never underestimate the value of networking wherever you go.

One thing I have learned in my time abroad is that people are generally very friendly and
love to talk about their home and culture. This is not always the case, but more than often it
is. Making friendships abroad can make this big world seem a little smaller and help you feel
more connected wherever you go.

The best advice I can give is to meet as many people on your travels as you can. It will
definitely make your time abroad more enjoyable since the locals know best! Plus you never
know when these connections will come in handy in the future whether visiting each other for
fun or otherwise.

Adapted from https://greenhearttravel.org/blog/high-school-abroad/6-reasons-why-traveling-

abroad-is-important-for-young-people
 Article 2

Different Cultures Cause Miscommunication

In: Social Issues

Submitted By sungato
Words 835
Pages 4
HUE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES
ENGLISH DEPARTMENT
....................

CROSS- CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

Instructor : NGUYEN BACH NGA

Group : 8
Student : HO VAN KET
Class : ANHSPK10D
Student code : 13F7011114 ******* Hue, 2016 *******
TOPIC FOR END-OF-COURSE ASSIGNMENT
CROSS-CULTURAL COMMUNICATION

When people from different cultures communicate, misunderstandings can happen. What
are the possible reasons for those misunderstandings and what should people do in order to
avoid them and prevent them from turning into cultural conflicts?
Please limit your answer to no more than 1200 words.

Misunderstanding is a communication phenomenon that we often experience in our life.

Especially, when we communicate with people from different cultures, the misunderstanding
is inevitable. In my opinion, the main reasons for case is owing to language differences, Body
different verbal communication styles and non-verbal misinterpretation. The important thing 1(C)
here is what will we have to do in order to avoid misunderstanding, does not let it results in
cultural conflicts. The first reason for misunderstanding is language differences which are the
most common communication barriers which cause misunderstandings and
misinterpretations between people. The fact is that in the world there are many countries and
many different languages. So when two people that use two own language to communicate,
the communication will not be effective, even it leads to misunderstand what speaker means.
For example, a Canadian goes to visit a City ethnic minority group in Thua Thien Hue,
Vietnam. When he opened his mouth to greet "How do you do". People in village heard this,
they were very angry with him. Because of 'how' in Cotu's language means way to do
something and 'do' by their understanding way is obscene word of Vietnamese....

Adapted from https://www.termpaperwarehouse.com/essay-on/Different-Cultures-Cause-

Miscommunication/501110
 Article 3

More M’sians travelling abroad NATION

Wednesday, 16 Dec 2015, 12:00 AM MYT

PETALING JAYA: More Malaysians are travelling abroad for leisure, with nine in 10 people
having done so during the past two years, according to a global survey.

They also make an average of three leisure trips overseas, higher than the global average of
two, Visa Inc said in a statement.

The 2015 Global Travel Intentions Survey, commissioned by Visa Inc, also noted that
business and leisure trips were also on the rise among Malaysians.

“This is a significant increase from the findings in 2013, where 76% of Malaysians travelled
overseas in the past two years,” it said.

Visa Malaysia country manager Ng Kong Boon said travelling was the most popular leisure
activity among Malaysians.
Body II
“Malaysians have been travelling more over the last two years. The bulk (93%) of those (A)(2)
travelling are aged between 25 and 34,” he said in a statement.

Based on the survey involving 503 respondents, Visa found that Malaysians mostly travelled
within the region, with top destinations being Singapore (41%), Thailand (32%), Indonesia
(30%) and Hong Kong (26%).

Currently, Malaysians spend an average of US$1,145 (RM4,961) when travelling, lower than
the regional and global average.

“Compared to other types of travellers in Malaysia, pleasure travellers seem to be the most
budget conscious. Seventy-two per cent of them choose the destinations for their holidays
based on their budget or existing promotions,” it added.

On accommodation, Malaysians are less likely to stay in high-end resorts, compared to

fellow travellers in the region and other parts of the world. The bulk of Malaysian travellers
will most likely stay in hotels bearing one, two or three stars as they go for convenience,
affordability and safety.

“Bonding with loved ones remains the top motivation for travel by Malaysian travellers for
their future trips (54%), followed by experiencing cultures (43%) and for rest and relaxation
(37%),” it said.

Adapted from https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/12/16/more-msians-travelling-

abroad-nine-out-of-10-went-on-international-trips-during-the-past-two-years
 Article 4
Do You Have Enough Confidence to Travel? You Should.
By Derek|December 11th, 2014|Travel Tips & Advice|55 Comments

Confidence to Travel
So don’t give up. Try a few of these ideas instead:

1. Someone loves your idea. Find them. – Surely there must be a friend or family member,
or maybe several, that supports your decision to travel. Get them on the phone, write them
an email and communicate with them often. Discuss your ideas with them and observe the
confidence they have in you, while understanding that they know you best…and if they think
you can take on such an adventure, you should think so too!

2. Heck, we support you. – If you can’t find friends or family who support your travel ideas, or
even if you do, you can always turn to the community of travelers online to gain that extra
confidence. Considering that everyone finds their own way to achieve their travel goals,
surely you can connect with people who were in a similar situation as yourself, whatever that
may be. Write to travelers, ask for advice and listen to what they have to say, all the time
remembering that if so many of these other people have managed to make travel happen,
there’s no reason why you can’t make it happen as well.

3. Why do you want to travel? Figure it out. – Think about exactly why you want to go off and
travel and then narrow it down to one or more specific goals. This will allow you to take real
steps so that you can see your travels develop right before you, instead of having no clue
how to proceed. And taking real steps leads to increased confidence. Just saying “I want to
travel” doesn’t really lead you in a particular direction so how can you gain confidence when
you don’t know where you’re headed? On the other hand, if you know you want to learn
about religion in Asia, for example, figure out which religion, then figure out which country
and region you should visit to find that religion and once you’ve done that, you can
communicate with others who’ve been to that destination and ask them questions, find out
where they stayed, whether they have any contacts, etc.…now you’re rolling, taking actual
steps, creating a comfortable structure to your trip and gathering information to help guide
you.

4. Just buy that ticket. – You could just get online right this very instant and book a flight
ticket to somewhere you want to go. And if you’re looking for the cheapest fare possible, that
ticket will also be non-refundable, which in this case is simply…excellent! Buy that ticket and
you have no choice but to find that extra confidence to travel because in a certain amount of
days, you either get on that plane and start traveling or lose a lot of money.

5. Be a traveler, right now, at home. – Find the closest town or city to where you live that has
hostels and book a couple of nights at the most popular one. Go there on your own, maybe
for a weekend. This easy experience will put you right into a travel environment and it will
also show you exactly why you’ll never be alone, unless you choose to, when you travel
overseas. Talk to as many of the other travelers there as you can, hang out with them and
Body II
listen to their own travel tales. I’m certain that after one weekend of this, you’ll be completely
ready and more than confident to proceed with your international travel plans. (B)(1,2)

6. Start with a group. – Maybe you just don’t want to travel independently, and that’s
perfectly fine. Your answer might be joining a small group tour so that you can still
experience a destination without needing all the confidence you would need to travel by
yourself. That’s exactly why I started offering my own unique small group tours, so that
everyone has a chance to visit certain destinations that they otherwise might not visit on their
own. And I can’t tell you how many people have joined one of these tours and then gone on
to travel to other destinations by themselves, with more confidence than they ever imagined
possible.

Really, try a few of those ideas above. Then let’s see if you still have that ‘No way am I really
going to do this’ thought in your head.

Also, just remember…I’m out here. I’m writing this post from Bucharest, Romania, and it
looks like I’ll be in a few more countries over the next couple of months as well.

And of course, I’m not the only one! Just have a look at these travelers. They are all out here
in the world right now or have been out here or get out here into the world as often as they
can. They all faced the same obstacle as us at one point as well – that lack of confidence –
and they all overcame it…and I’m positive that they are all so utterly and absurdly thrilled
that they did.

Don’t you want to be that thrilled?

Adapted from https://www.wanderingearl.com/do-you-have-enough-confidence-to-travel/

 Article 5
By Megha Cherian, FEB. 21, 2016

7 benefits of learning another language

1) Increase your brain power.
It’s not surprising that Sherlock Holmes was multilingual. Learning a language is a great way
to keep your brain healthy and sharp.

Research shows that people who are multilingual may be better at processing language and
other analytical tasks. Switching between languages causes the part of your brain
responsible for problem-solving and filtering information to work more efficiently. And a more
active brain could delay neurological diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's. For more
information on the bilingual brain, watch this quick Ted Talk.
Body II ( C ) (2)
2) Language is the gateway into another culture.
Language is the best introduction to a new culture. It automatically makes you interested in
the cultural traditions that are tied to learning a language. Of course, you can still learn about
other cultures, but language learning really allows for a more immersive experience. Most of
the time, efforts at translation can’t fully capture the nuances conveyed in different
languages. Even movie titles can get lost in translation. But multilinguals can read new
literature without translation, sing along to songs and actually understand the lyrics and
watch foreign films without the need for pesky subtitles. With a new language, a whole new
world will be open to you.

3) Be a better communicator in any language.

Learning a language forces you to improve your listening skills and while making you look at
your own language in a different way. People rarely give a second thought to how their
native language works, but language learners are forced to be more conscious of
grammatical rules and constructions of that language, which can give new insight into how
they use their mother tongues. Knowing a second language also allows you to connect with
more people and if you learn in a group setting, you’re automatically part of a larger
community of language learners. For myself, speaking other languages keeps me connected
to family and friends who live in other parts of the world that don’t speak English.

4) Make travel easier and more enjoyable.

If you are or aspire to be a globetrotter, learning languages is a must! Traveling is way more
fun and easier when there isn’t a language barrier. You don’t have to worry about getting
around because you don’t speak the language. You can converse with locals without relying
on charades or translation books and, most importantly, know what food to order without
pointing at pictures.

And when languages share similarities, it's easier to apply your knowledge of one language
to another and travel to different regions of the world. Knowing Spanish for instance, is
helpful in learning and understanding other Romance languages like Italian, French and
Portuguese.

5) Preserve lesser known languages.

Language is one of the most important instruments of preserving heritage. According to the
UN, half of the more than 6000 languages spoken in the world will disappear by the end of
the century. And we may lose more than just words if we let them die out. Writing systems
only exist for about one-third of the world’s languages, so language itself is the only way to
convey a culture’s oral traditions. Language also conveys unique cultural expressions. Ever
wanted a word that expresses that delightfully warm feeling of seeing an adorable little
kitten?
The Cherokee language has a unique word called "oo-kah-huh-sdee" that does just that.

While not every language may survive amidst globalization, choosing to study a lesser
known language can help promote the preservation of minority languages and protect the
cultural knowledge that comes along with it. When a language disappears, so does its
culture and the body of knowledge it has accumulated.

6) Become more open-minded and bridge cultural gaps.

A huge reason for cultural stereotypes, and prejudice is a lack of understanding between
people of different cultures. The way languages are formed and local language like slang
can give great insight into the people who speak it. While learning a different language can
make you more aware of cultural differences, you also come to understand why those
differences exist and the importance of respecting cultures different from your own.
Language learning can inspire solidarity, tolerance, and understanding especially in a time
when refugees are denied help because of xenophobia and cultural prejudices.

7) Become a better global citizen.

If you haven’t realized already, all the benefits that come with learning another language will
make you an awesome global citizen. It's pretty much a superpower.

Many would argue that multilingualism is essential in an increasingly interconnected world.

Having the ability and willingness to engage with many different kinds of people can go a
long way in better understanding and tackling global challenges like poverty and inequality.

Didn’t learn a second language as a kid? It’s never too late to start learning! Even if it’s just 5
minutes of learning a day, with continual practice you can create a solid foundation for
starting language study. Your brain will thank you for it!

Adapted from https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/7-benefits-of-learning-another-

language/
 Article 6

The 50 most inspiring travel quotes of all time travel

Lola (Akinmade) Åkerström, Mar 7, 2008

IF AMAZING IMAGES FROM AROUND THE WORLD are not enough to encourage you to
go out there and travel, some travel quotes may help.

Take the time to read all the way to the end because, who knows, one of these travel
phrases may get you on the road and/or be a mantra to keep you exploring the world for
years to come. Here are the 50 most inspiring travel quotes of all time:

1. “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness.” – Mark Twain

2. “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
3. “There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” – Robert Louis
Stevenson
4. “The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how
things may be, to see them as they are.” – Samuel Johnson
5. “All the pathos and irony of leaving one’s youth behind is thus implicit in every joyous
moment of travel: one knows that the first joy can never be recovered, and the wise traveler
learns not to repeat successes but tries new places all the time.” – Paul Fussell
6. “Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But
no matter, the road is life.” – Jack Kerouac
7. “He who does not travel does not know the value of men.” – Moorish proverb
8. “People travel to faraway places to watch, in fascination, the kind of people they ignore at
home.” – Dagobert D. Runes
9. “A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” – John
Steinbeck
10. “No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on
his old, familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang
11. “Your true traveler finds boredom rather agreeable than painful. It is the symbol of his
liberty — his excessive freedom. He accepts his boredom, when it comes, not merely
philosophically, but almost with pleasure.” – Aldous Huxley
12. “All travel has its advantages. If the passenger visits better countries, he may learn to
improve his own. And if fortune carries him to worse, he may learn to enjoy it.” – Samuel
Johnson ….

Adapted from https://matadornetwork.com/bnt/50-most-inspiring-travel-quotes-of-all-time/

Conclusion II