Learning The English Language

English for Tour Guiding

Tour Guiding in English

Tour guiding is an exciting, challenging and fulfilling job. Not only do you get to visit beautiful sights and learn about historic sites, but you are responsible for a tour groups’ safety and enjoyment, and can be challenged by questions you may not have the answers to. As a tour guide, your main role is to make sure the tour is interesting and informative.

There are three main areas of focus for those wanting to polish their English to be a tour guide. The first is how to explain rules and safety precautions clearly and politely. A good technique is to memorise your speech rather than reading it. This way people will pay closer attention and understand you more clearly. It is also a good idea to ask questions at the end of your speech to ensure that they have understood it, such as “Is everyone clear about this?” .

The second is learning how to give advice in a friendly way about useful tips as the tourists are likely to be foreigners and know little about the country. Learn the terminology associated with exchanging money, catching public transport, etiquette particular to the culture, and where to find places.

Tour guides should also try to know as much as possible about the history, culture and scenery that you are touring. While you don’t have to talk the entire time, you should know enough to keep the tourists interested and be able to answer questions. You may not always have the answers to people’s questions, however you can be prepared for common types of questions and how they will be phrased.

English Tour Guiding Courses

An English course designed to prepare people to become tour guides  is often a better option than taking a more general course or simply starting to work without having a good grasp of the English language. The latter could mean that not only would you underperform in your job, but that you may be putting tourists at risk by not making safety precautions clear.

Tour guide courses place special emphasis on speaking and listening skills, confidence-building exercises and projects, and excursions to get first-hand experience on how tour guiding.