So much of a student’s education takes place in a classroom, reading textbooks, or in front of a computer, but there are so many more ways to learn. Traveling gives students a powerful avenue for experiencing the world and applying their lessons to real-life scenarios. If your family is able to travel and if your student is enrolled in an online charter school or something similar that would allow them to learn from anywhere, traveling can be an effective way to expand their awareness of different places, people, and subjects.

There are very few forms of education that can reach and transform students quite like traveling.

Here are just a few of the many benefits of taking the classroom on the road.

They Get to Stretch Their Language Skills & Speak with Locals

One of the most practical benefits of traveling is that it gives students the chance to communicate with locals in their own dialect. Even if they’re not studying the specific language of the place they’re visiting, travel, in a way, forces students to learn what’s being spoken or used. Asking for directions, reading public transportation maps, and perusing menus offer ways for students to pick up the very basics of a new language. Taking a language they’ve studied and using it to converse with actual native speakers can help your student master the language in a way textbooks alone wouldn’t.

It Allows Them to Explore New & Similar Cultures

Observing different cultures is one of the ways students gain new perspectives on the world. Cuisine, manners, and social expectations can vary greatly across different countries and cultures. For example, something as seemingly simple as a meal may play out so differently depending on where in the globe you’re dining. At the same time, many students might learn how similar their own culture is to another’s; they might find that their values, interests, habits, and hobbies are almost identical to the children of another country. Spending time in another culture not only opens their eyes, but it’ll help them find common ground with, and empathy for, new people they meet.

They Can Discover Historical Events First-Hand

Exploring the world brings history to life for students. They get the chance to take an adventure away from their textbooks and into places where history was actually made. They can walk through battle fields, check out a thriving political center, or visit the ruins of an ancient civilization. Seeing places they’ve only read about may totally change the way they learn and understand history and social sciences.

It Helps Them Grow & Gain Independence

Even the most experienced traveler will eventually find that their patience and comfort get tested. Luggage gets lost, flights get delayed, hotel photos are misleading…a lot can go wrong on a single trip. If a student learns to be calm and flexible while traveling, they’ll be able to overcome challenges—not just while away from home, but in life as well. Giving your student room to venture out or plan a day of sightseeing can also help them gain independence and confidence.

It Gives Them New Perspectives & Appreciation

New experiences will broaden your student’s horizons and challenge their preconceived ideas. Traveling also gives them the opportunity to appreciate all they have at home—their beds, friends, favorite dining spot—and pay more attention to the things that are actually meaningful to them.

It Gives Them a Break

Seeing new places and experiencing new things can break up the monotony of everyday schoolwork. More than that, traveling is fun! Textbooks or online exercises can only do so much in capturing and holding your student’s attention, but taking their education out of the classroom can bring new excitement to the subjects they’re learning.

What are your best worldschooling tips?