This world has so much to offer. If you’re like many of us, you have dreams of traveling to visit new places and see new sights. One of the biggest parts of traveling is experiencing new cultures, and that of course means new languages. Studies suggest that there are over 6,000 languages in the world. Wow! There’s no way to learn all of them, so how can we communicate when we travel? Well, English is the most commonly spoken language in the world with over 1 billion speakers. Let’s explore why learning English is so beneficial for traveling international students.
Mandarin Chinese and Spanish are the top two languages with the most native speakers, with English as the third most common language with native speakers. However, if you count English as a second language, English is the number one language spoken in the world with over 1 billion speakers. English is the top internationally spoken language. That said, if you travel to a different country, there is a high chance you will meet someone who speaks English.
There are many reasons to visit the United States. Some visit for sightseeing while others come to study and start their career. In either case, learning English will be beneficial. The United States is home to people of many different cultures and backgrounds, so you may meet someone who speaks your native language. That said, over 200 million Americans speak only English. It is by far the most common language in the U.S., and that is the case in most casual settings, professional settings, and educational settings.
Everyone has to start somewhere. Here are a few common English words and terms for international students to know when traveling.
English | Spanish | French | German | Italian |
---|---|---|---|---|
Hello | Hola | Bonjour | Hallo | Ciao |
Yes | Si | Oui | Ja | Si |
No | No | Non | Nein | No |
Please | Por favor | S’il vous plaît | Bitte | Per favore |
Thank you | Gracias | Merci | Danke | Grazie |
You’re welcome | De nada | Vous êtes les bienvenus | Bitte | Prego |
Sorry | Lo siento | Pardon | Es tut mir uns leid | Scusa |
Excuse me | Perdóneme | Excusez-moi | Entschuldigen Sie mich | Mi scusi |
“Where is…?”
A question asked to find out the location of something.
Example: “Where is the bathroom?”
“Do you speak [language]?”
A question asked to find out if someone knows another language.
Example: “Do you speak French?”
“May I have…?”
A question to ask in a restaurant when making an order or in similar situations.
Example: “May I have more water?”
Due to the 2020 pandemic, travel is currently very limited. Thankfully, we live in a state that has so much to do! Here are a few of our favorites!
Providence Canyon State Park – located in South Georgia, known as our “Little Grand Canyon”
Tallulah Gorge State Park – located in North Georgia, this is a beautiful place with waterfalls and canyons
Amicalola Falls State Park – located in North Georgia, this is home to what many consider the state’s best waterfall
Sweetwater Creek State Park – located in Atlanta, this is a great local spot for hiking and the home to a few small ruins as seen in blockbuster movies
These locations have indoor portions and have announced they follow all health and safety guidelines as outlined by the CDC. Please visit their websites to learn more info before visiting.
Georgia Aquarium – this opened as the world’s largest aquarium and now has over 100,000 animals to see
World of Coca-Cola – this is a must-do attraction in Atlanta with a museum and taste testing opportunities
SkyView Atlanta – this is a 200-plus foot tall Ferris wheel located in the heart of Atlanta, making for great views
There’s something here for everybody! Georgia is so much more than just Atlanta. This is a beautiful state with some of the country’s best attractions. To find great ways to spend your time in Georgia, visit exploregeorgia.org.
Learning English can open up great opportunities for you. Students at English for Internationals are in a great position to further their career and education. Teaching for nearly 30 years, English for Internationals among the best English school in Atlanta, now offering online courses!
Give us a call at 770-587-9640 or contact us on our website. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram to learn more and to be a part of our engaging community!