Saturday, May 12, 2012

Languages and Travelling: An out-of-this-world experience?


Our imagination can do more things than we know. Sometimes routine and responsibility can blunt our creativity, so it is important to always find a moment for a break where we can take a deep breath, relax and focus on the good things of our lives. Amazingly, when asked what kind of things make them happy or what kind of things are written on their bucket list, a surprising number of people mention learning languages and travelling. These two things combine fun, self-growth and development, experience and knowledge, causing a feeling of fulfillment on all kinds of people. In general, those who don’t care much for travelling are the same ones who have never done so before. Experience shows that travelling is a one way ticket: once you’ve tried the taste of it, you will want to do it more often.
 
How is this feeling of fulfillment connected to travelling and learning languages? While taking French classes New York students were asked this question, and this is what Maria, a 22 year old student of listenandlearn replied:  

“It might have to do with the search that we do as human beings. Some people find this feeling of glorification, of ‘incredible things beyond what we have within our reach’ in God, while others try to find it on the earth. Learning languages and travelling allows you to get out of your daily life, of your routine, to stay in touch with something different: a different country, a different language and culture, different minds, ideas, values, etc. There is something we want from the different, the unknown. Perhaps it is the same thing other people find in God: feeling identified and part of something greater.”

We quote Maria’s words because they really caught our attention. Since no one asks this question often, it is not common to read an explanation like this. Perhaps there is something transcendental about travelling and language learning, something that touches the very souls of us, while expanding our horizons in practical life (business opportunities, new friendships, etc.). What are your thoughts on this topic?



Monday, November 21, 2011

How To Become A Travel Agent

If you are looking for a good paying job and you can’t seem to find something that would also allow you to have fun and visit different places, then you might want to. There are a lot of companies that give you as a travel expert a lot of help and understanding to run your travel agency with a small fee. The easiest way of starting your travel agency is to have an internet site branded with your own personal agency name. A booking engine will allow you to book travel and keep up with every traveling company in the world. You will be able to give your customers access to cruises, hotels, all-inclusive resorts and so on. Here are some tips that you could try so you would know how to become a travel agent;


1.    You need to be able to have a high school diploma. You should know that the minimum qualification in case you are interested in becoming a travel agent is a high school diploma or equivalent. A lot of travel agencies prefer applicants who have advanced educational credentials, but a high school education is needed at the very least.

2.    You need to make sure to have a vast knowledge about travelling. If you really want to become a travel agent, you need to be well-versed about various destinations and you should also know different languages so you would be able to converse with other people easily. You must also be aware of some things such as the weather conditions, attractions, local customs and events. One way to start learning is by subscribing to a wide variety of travel magazines and researching current travel trends online.

3.    You might also consider travelling as much as possible. Nothing beats personal travel experience as a basis for obtaining knowledge about a city or foreign country so be sure to check out different places so whenever you give your advice to customers be sure to base it on personal experiences.

4.    Lastly, you need to be able to register with your state if applicable. Make sure to check the requirement so you would be able to easily know what you need to comply with so you could be the best travel agent. Not all states require travel agents to register, but state requirements should be checked upon before working there.
Being a travel agent is definitely a lot of fun and if you really to become one, then you should check out the tips provided in this article so you would be able to know how to become a travel agent. I hope that this article would help you with your dream of becoming the best travel agent.