What to know before you go

Teacher instruction: The aim of this first activity is to get students thinking along the lines of not only international travel, but preparation for taking trips abroad.

There will be an opportunity to revisit this exercise at the end of the lesson to see what, if any, new insights students will present after being taught the lesson in full. In this regard, teachers should encourage discussion in this first activity but need not be too concerned about eliciting correct or detailed responses.

Teachers should divide students into groups to discuss one of the scenarios below (while six scenarios are presented, please select the most appropriate number/theme or feel free to create your own scenarios).

What do you think you will need to do before travelling if you are:

1. Going to see Ireland play in Paris over one long weekend;
2. Volunteering in Uganda for a month during the summer;
3. Visiting cousins in Manchester;
4. On a work trip to Dubai;
5. On a college field trip to the Carpathians;
6. Going on a post-exam holiday to Mallorca.

Students should be encouraged to think outside the box and draw from their own experiences and those of their family, friends and stories from the media.

Each group draws up a check list and then as a whole class compare their suggestions.

Note: this activity will be repeated at the end of the lesson to see what else the students might add to their respective holiday checklists following an exploration of travel advice.

Items on the checklist might include: checking the mobile data plan of their destination to find out whether their phone will work abroad; checking if their chargers will work with the voltage and socket differences. LGBTQI+ students will need to consider their safety and security in certain countries. Creating WhatsApp groups with travel companions to stay in close contact is another good way to prepare and be ‘TravelWise’ once abroad.

Further suggestions, which can be found on the TravelWise website:

• Comprehensive travel insurance
• Know the contact details for your nearest Embassy/Consulate
• Check if vaccinations are required for your destination
• Read the Department’s country-specific travel advice
• Check your passport is in date and isn’t damaged (damaged passports are not accepted by some Immigration authorities)
• Share your travel plans with family/friends
• Have soft copies of your travel documents ready (in case they are lost)
• If travelling in Europe have an European Health Insurance Card and a passport card
• Registering details on the Department of Foreign Affairs’ Citizens’ Registration platform