The Language Learner’s Journey: What Kind of Traveller Are You?

There’s a great deal of similarity to travelling styles and language learning styles.

When you are travelling, do you pick a destination, find the fastest (and cheapest) way to get there, and plan everything—down to where you’ll eat and how you’ll get from the airport to your hotel?

Or are you more of a wanderer? Someone who sets off without a strict plan, happy to get a little lost, trusting that the journey itself will bring unexpected joys?

And while we’re thinking about it—do you prefer luxury hotels with poolside service? Or simple accommodations that leave room in your budget for adventures?

These travel preferences might seem unrelated to learning English, but they reveal something important about you. Because learning a language is also a journey, and people have their own language learning styles.

The only question is: what kind of journey are YOU on?

The Fast Lane: Getting to Your Destination ASAP

Some learners have crystal-clear destinations in mind:

“I need to pass my IELTS exam by August.”
“I have a job interview in English next month.”
“I need to present confidently in English at next quarter’s meetings.”

These learners are like travellers who:

Take direct flights rather than scenic routes
Research the fastest transport options from the airport
Plan their itinerary to maximize efficiency

They often work one-on-one with a language coach, follow structured study plans, and measure their progress carefully. This journey isn’t always relaxing, but it gets results when time matters most.

Fast Lane Learning Techniques

If you are someone with a “fast lane” language learning style, these approaches might work best for you:

Targeted skill development: Rather than general English, focus exclusively on the specific skills you need for your goal (presentation vocabulary, interview phrases, writing formats for your exam).
Spaced repetition systems: Tools like Anki or Quizlet can help you memorize essential vocabulary quickly through scientifically-proven review methods.
Immersive practice: Schedule regular mock interviews, presentations, or exam simulations under realistic conditions to build comfort with pressure.
Strategic learning: Analyze past exams or job requirements to identify exactly what language skills will be assessed, then focus your energy there.
Accountability structures: Working with a coach who specializes in your specific goal creates deadlines and feedback loops that accelerate progress.

Fast Lane Success Story: Mei’s IELTS Journey

Mei needed to achieve a Band 7 IELTS score within two months to qualify for her dream master’s program in Canada. With a full-time job and family commitments, her time was extremely limited.

Instead of trying to improve her overall English, we identified her specific weaknesses: writing task structure and speaking fluency. We created a focused plan:

10 minutes of targeted speaking practice daily (program outlined here)
A1-hour coaching session weekly focused exclusively on IELTS strategies
A customized phrase bank for her speaking responses

“I didn’t have time to take the scenic route,” Mei explains. “I needed efficiency above all else. Having a structured plan with clear milestones kept me focused when I was exhausted after work. Knowing exactly what to study—and more importantly, what NOT to study—made all the difference.”

Mei achieved her Band 7 goal and now continues her English learning at a more relaxed pace while studying in Canada.

The Scenic Route: Enjoying the Journey

Other learners aren’t racing against the clock. They want to absorb the language naturally, connect with its culture, and build confidence at their own pace.

These language learners might join conversation groups, watch shows with subtitles, or simply listen to music in English. They enjoy discovering new expressions and making friends along the way.

They’re like travelers who:

Wander through charming neighborhoods without a map
Stop to chat with locals about their favorite hidden spots
Say yes to unexpected invitations and detours

This path isn’t always the quickest—but it creates lasting memories and deeper connections.

Scenic Route Learning Techniques

If the “scenic route” matches your kind of language learning style better, these approaches might resonate with you:

Interest-based learning: Build your language skills around topics you genuinely enjoy—whether that’s cooking, sports, technology, or fashion.
Community connections: Join language exchange groups, online forums, or local meetups where you can practice in a low-pressure environment.
Content immersion: Find TV shows, podcasts, YouTube channels (including my English learning for the mining industry channel here), or books that you genuinely enjoy in English, using your interest to fuel consistent exposure.
Cultural context: Learn about the traditions, humor, and social norms connected to English-speaking cultures to enrich your understanding.
Reflective journaling: Keep track of new words or expressions you encounter “in the wild” and how they made you feel or what they helped you understand.

Scenic Route Success Story: Carlos’s Natural Fluency

Carlos had studied English in school for years but never felt confident speaking. Unlike many learners, he didn’t have a pressing deadline—he simply wanted to feel comfortable using English to apply for international positions someday.

“Traditional courses always made me anxious,” Carlos shares. “I’d memorize grammar rules but freeze when trying to have an actual conversation.”

Our approach embraced his love of travel:

Watching travel shows in English with subtitles
Following travel bloggers on Instagram and commenting in English
We developed a speaking program on Telegram to allow us to speak daily through voice messages about trval we had done or bucket list activities we dreamed of doing.

“Learning stopped feeling like work,” Carlos explains. “I was just pursuing my passion, and English became the tool that unlocked new recipes and connections with chefs around the world.”

After a year of this approach, Carlos travelled to London and found himself comfortably chatting with local market vendors and restaurant staff. “The confidence came naturally because I was talking about something I loved. I wasn’t counting grammar mistakes—I was sharing experiences.”

Finding Your Perfect Balance

While these two approaches represent different ends of a spectrum, most language learners benefit from finding their own unique balance.

Even the most deadline-driven learner benefits from occasional moments of natural language joy. And even the most relaxed explorer can benefit from some structure and focus.

Here’s how to find your perfect blend:

For Primarily “Fast Lane” Learners

Schedule short “scenic detours” into your study plan—perhaps a 15-minute podcast on a topic you enjoy or a quick chat exchange after your structured study
Find ways to make necessary content personally relevant
Celebrate progress with cultural rewards that expose you to authentic language

For Primarily “Scenic Route” Learners

Set gentle milestones to maintain momentum
Use your interests to guide focused mini-projects
Consider occasional “fast lane” sprints when learning plateaus occur

The Hybrid Approach: Bella’s Story

Bella represents many of my successful students who combine elements of both approaches.

As a mining graduate in Australia, she needed to improve her English for work, but didn’t have a specific test or deadline looming. Her English was affecting her confidence, and she was having trouble expressing her ideas. She felt she was being left behind the other graduates who were getting noticed in the workplace and getting opportunities that she was missing out on.

At the same time, she needed to improve her English to achieve an IELTS band score for immigration purposes.

We created a hybrid approach:

Structure: One weekly coaching session focused on industry communication and technical writing & one weekly IELTS preparation session.
Freedom: We added in extra daily self-study lessons to complete at her own pace to support the learnings. These included additional resources for informal exploration (podcasts, YouTube videos etc)
Accountability: Weekly coaching sessions

“What worked for me was having just enough structure to feel progress, but enough flexibility to follow my interests and work schedule,” Bella explains. “Some weeks I needed the discipline of clear exercises, other times I learned more from just diving into conversations about industry topics I found interesting.”

Within six months, Bella’s confidence soared, and she received active invitations to apply for jobs with other companies.

So, What Kind of Language Traveller Are You?

Whether you’re sprinting toward a certification or meandering through conversations with new friends… your journey is valid.

But your path becomes clearer when you understand your own language learning style, including:

Why you’re learning English
Where exactly you want to go with it
What kind of learning experience brings you joy

Take the Quick Quiz to Find Your Language Learning Style

Answer these five questions to discover your language learning style:

When learning new vocabulary, do you prefer:
- A) Memorising exactly what you need for a specific purpose
- B) Picking up words naturally from content you enjoy
How do you feel about making mistakes when speaking?
- A) I want immediate correction to improve quickly
- B) I prefer to build confidence first, accuracy can come later
What motivates you more:
- A) Seeing measurable progress toward a specific goal
- B) Experiencing moments of genuine connection in the language
How do you prefer to structure your learning time?
- A) Regular, scheduled sessions with clear objectives
- B) Flexible, interest-driven engagement when it feels right
What would feel more satisfying:
- A) Achieving a specific score on a language test
- B) Having a comfortable, hour-long conversation with a native speaker

Mostly A answers suggest you might thrive in the fast lane, while mostly B answers point to the scenic route. Many learners have a mix of both!

Finding Your Path Forward

I work with professionals from around the world who are travelling different language routes for different reasons. Through years of teaching experience, I’ve developed customized approaches for every language learning style.

If you’re trying to figure out your best path forward, I’d love to hear about your journey and help you find your way. Whether you need a structured roadmap to quick results or a more organic approach to building lasting language skills, we can design the right journey for you.

Schedule a free 30-minute consultation to discuss your language learning goals and discover which path might work best for your unique situation.

How do you prefer to travel through language learning? Share your experiences in the comments below!