A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step - and your journey to better English can start with a single step, too! Did you know that walking is not just good for the heart and the muscles, but also for your English?
Researchers in Germany have discovered that we can remember things better when we're walking, compared to when we're sitting. Whether it's the increase in blood circulation or the rhythmic movements of the body, walking helps our brains to learn better.
So, read our tips below to transform your daily walk into an active language-learning experience and walk your way to better English!
See it, name it
"Pavement", "pedestrian", "poodle", "puddle"… Can you name the things you see on your walk? Choose a category to look out for, such as "nature", "transport", "things that make me smile" or "nouns that start with a ‘p'". Take a quick photo or make an audio note of anything you can't name, so you can look it up later.
Pretty pics
Take a few nice photos of the interesting things you see on your walk. Share the best ones online with short descriptions in English. You can also explain why you chose them, what they make you think of and how they make you feel.
Take a book
Take a good book with you - not in your hands, of course, but in your ears. Pretty much every book printed these days is also available as an audiobook, often read by the author or by a big-name actor. Audible (www.audible.de) is the big player in this field, with thousands of English-language titles available to download.
Podcasts on pavements
A chatty podcast can keep you company on your walk, too. The BBC radio podcast Ramblings (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ramblings/id269018823) takes you on an audio walk through a different part of the British countryside each time, meeting interesting people (and animals) along the way - so it's the perfect companion for an English walk, wherever you are.
By the way, the Ramblings podcast cleverly combines two meanings in its title. "To ramble" means "to walk without a fixed route" but also "to chat aimlessly".
Lessons on the go
You can do actual language lessons while you walk - if you can walk, think, listen and speak all at the same time without falling over! Did you know that, here at Spotlight, we produce an audio trainer of our own? Spotlight Audio is the perfect "on-the-go" companion to each issue, combining selected articles from the magazine with original recordings and "speak-along" activities.
Radio Me
Be your own radio presenter. Give a running commentary of what you can see around you and how you feel on your walk. You can do it silently in your head or you can challenge yourself to record your commentary on your phone: "You join me here in the park on a Tuesday afternoon…"
Walk and talk
Do you know someone who'd like to practise their English with you? Or perhaps you know a native English speaker who'd like to do a language swap with you, taking turns speaking in English and German. If you have a private teacher, you could suggest that you take one of your lessons outdoors for a change. If you feel anxious or self-conscious when speaking English, it can be much easier to chat while you're walking, as there's no eye contact and no pressure to speak to fill the silence.
Meet up
There are various websites and apps to help you find like-minded people who you can share activities with. Filter for "English language" and "outdoors", and see what comes up! It only took me a few minutes on www.meetup.com to find several activities in German cities, such as the Hamburg Hikers or the Greater Stuttgart Hiking Group.
Walking holidays
Would you like to put your walking boots on and venture further afield? How about a group walking holiday in an English-speaking country or in any country where English is the common language spoken among mixed nationalities? If you'd like lessons as well as chatty walks, take a look at specialist language holiday organizers. With Skool Cornwall (www.skoolcornwall.com), for example, you can be in the classroom in the morning, then hiking in the glorious Cornish landscape in the afternoon.
Take a tour
Have you ever taken a guided tour of your own city? It's surprising how many of us never bother to explore what's on our own doorstep. Choose an English-language tour of local landmarks, and off you go! As well as listening to the guide, you'll have the chance to ask questions and to chat to other participants while you're walking between the points on the tour.
"Turn left at the corner..."
Imagine you'll have to describe your route in English to someone later. Include as much detail as you can, so you'll be able to give good directions. To spice it up, you could pretend you're being kidnapped and will have to describe the location to the police. "Then we went along a narrow path. There was a black plastic litter bin on the right, with a few cigarette ends on the ground."