my journey in english

• Cambridge Dictionary +Plus

Meaning of journey in English

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journey noun [C] ( TRIP )

• She gave the children some sweets to chew on during the long car journey.
• The journey was quite quick because the road was clear .
• I expect you'd like to rest after your long journey.
• We did the journey to Wales in five hours .
• The train journey took us through a valley past rolling hills .
• break-journey
• circumnavigation

journey noun [C] ( EXPERIENCES )

• adaptive evolution
• advance the cause
• advancement
• formatively
• from A to B idiom
• punctuated equilibrium

journey noun [C] ( BOOK )

• absorptive capacity
• achievement gap
• acquisition
• know better (than someone ) idiom
• know better (than to do something ) idiom
• know something from something
• know something like the back of your hand idiom
• know your way around something idiom
• orientation
• recognition
• study holiday
• study under someone
• subspeciality
• subspecialize
• around Robin Hood's barn idiom
• communication
• super-commuting
• transoceanic
• well travelled

journey | American Dictionary

Examples of journey, collocations with journey.

These are words often used in combination with journey .

Click on a collocation to see more examples of it.

Translations of journey

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Word of the Day

accidentally on purpose

If you do something accidentally on purpose, you do it intentionally but pretend it happened by chance.

Fakes and forgeries (Things that are not what they seem to be)

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English Vision

In my journey vs. on my journey

I found in an English learners’ textbook a sentence which goes, “Many people helped me on my journey.” That’s no problem. That makes sense to me. What about “ in my journey?” Both seem to be okay. However, Google Ngram Viewer says “in my journey” is used a lot more often ( link ). Then comes up a question. This extract is from a English textbook for Japanese high school students at a lower intermediate or beginner level. Then why “ on my journey” rather than “ in my journey?” I wonder if “on” is preferred in this context?

Concerning prevalence of use, you made a little mistake in Ngram: You looked for “in my journey, on my journey s “. Using only the singular , we see a quite different usage curve.

More to the core of the question:

The noun ‘journey’ is also used metaphorically. “In my journey to become a better programmer, many people helped me.”

Here, ‘on’ is slightly off.

On the other hand, if ‘journey’ refers to an actual, physical journey, at least in the singular ‘on’ will be the better choice, as it (loosely) describes an event, even if that event may stretch over a longer period of time.

Attribution Source : Link , Question Author : Hidechan , Answer Author : GermanNerd

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Learn English with Maria

English courses & lessons

Written by Maria Fernandez

My journey to English fluency

Today I want to talk to you about my journey to English fluency.

The story I’m about to tell you shows you how I had to learn English the hard way, just like you, mostly with courses and teachers.

I didn’t have an English-speaking parent, and I didn’t go to an English school. But what I did have was the determination to learn as much English as I could.

Here’s my story:

Have you ever seen your dreams come true?

As a child, I fell in love with travelling. I dreamt of going to faraway* countries, meeting fascinating people, and seeing wonderful places.

But, above all, I dreamt of speaking in foreign languages in those wonderful places.

To escape from my Spanish-only world, I would stand in front of the mirror and pretend to talk in English. Only, it wasn’t English at all, just some silly* sounds I’d invented.

In my young mind I kept wishing I could speak English.

SEE ALSO: Maria’s English courses .

I knew it wouldn’t be an easy task*. If all I had was my school lessons, becoming fluent in English was going to take me two lifetimes.

But “it’s impossible” wasn’t an answer I was willing to accept, because I wasn’t going to let go of* my dream. Ever.

So I decided to embark on* my own English learning journey.

Learning English has taken me to the most amazing* places, and has allowed me to live a wonderful life.

Thanks to my dad.

He was the one who set the ball rolling* when he bought that irresistible English course.

I simply loved those lessons where you followed Mr Smith, the main character, from his London home to his office. You heard him talk to his clients on the phone, shared his lunch, and went to the pub with him.

Every evening, after school, I’d go to places with Mr Smith without leaving my bedroom.

That course was thrilling* and totally addictive.

I didn’t know it then, but I had just discovered the secret to mastering a language: I’d made my English lessons an essential part of my life.

[click_to_tweet tweet=”The secret to mastering English is to make your lessons an essential part of your life. #LearnEnglish” quote=”The secret to mastering English is to make your lessons an essential part of your life.”]

What made it even more exiting was that my sister got hooked* too, and mum.

I’m sure to the outside world we looked like a bunch of nutters*, but to us it was a window to a new world.

Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Learning English with Mr Collins

Because of their work as academics*, mum and dad needed to keep up their English. So, over the years, we had a number of private tutors; some were great, others less so.

The one I liked best was Mr Collins, who reminded me of my fictional Mr Smith.

Mr Collins was polite, clever and impossibly patient. I must have been about twelve when he first came to our flat in Madrid.

I remember I was sitting next to him at the study table. He took out a little book full of humorous stories, and asked me to read one out* to him. I shook my head.

– “No way*. I’d rather die than speak English in front of him”, I thought. In Spanish.

He smiled and read it out loud himself.

From what I remember he didn’t speak much Spanish. He’d talk to me in English and I had no trouble understanding him. But for several weeks I didn’t open my mouth, I just listened.

Eventually dad said that perhaps those English lessons weren’t such a good idea after all. Perhaps he should ask Mr Collins not to come back anymore.

That’s when I started reading the stories to my patient tutor. It was hard, but not as hard as saying goodbye to my English lessons.

PLAY: Play Maria’s free English pronunciation lesson .

Travelling to England for the first time

It was around that time that my parents decided we should all put our English to the test*. So, for two summers in a row*, the five of us got in the car and drove from Madrid to Folkestone, in the south of England.

We visited London and Canterbury, went to the beach, bought English toys, drank fresh milk, stared at the bobbies*, and practised our broken* English with the locals.

Then, over the years, there were other teachers and language courses. But what I remember most vividly is sitting down for hours in my room, learning on my own.

I still had such a long way to go. There were so many things I couldn’t do in English.

Literature was my true passion, but reading my favourite books in another language felt like a distant dream.

And then, one year at school, my English teacher encouraged me to read an abridged* version of A Tale of Two Cities, the Dickens novel.

Reading a whole book in English was a magical experience, even if it was abridged.

That was the first of more than a thousand books I’ve read in English ever since.

Reading books in English

I can clearly remember the first “real” English book I ever read.

Dad had a large bookcase in his home office. It was full of all kinds of titles, many of them in English. One day I decided to try one. I browsed* the shelves and picked The Great Gatsby , the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald.

I’m afraid I didn’t choose it because it was a masterpiece*, I didn’t know that at the time. I chose it because it was only 150 pages long.

I’ve read The Great Gatsby on several occasions over the years, and I often wonder just how much I understood that first time. But what I do know is that its opening lines made me fall in love with English literature, and I’ve never looked back.

In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.      “Whenever you feel like criticizing any one,” he told me, “just remember that all the people in this world haven’t had the advantages that you’ve had.”

from The Great Gatsby , by F. Scott Fitzgerald

For me, those memorable lines are a poignant* reminder of the head start* I was given in life.

I was lucky to be born in a family that values education above everything else. Because with education comes knowledge, and with knowledge comes freedom. Freedom to live the life of your dreams.

When the time came to go to university, everyone assumed I’d do an English degree, but the syllabus* looked boring to me. So I chose History instead, and spent an unreasonable amount of time studying English between History lectures.

Soon I got curious about other languages. I started doing German and French. My sister was studying German too, and we often had our course recordings playing in the background in our bedrooms.

Mum would stand in the corridor, muttering* that our home seemed to have become the Tower of Babel. She didn’t sound unhappy about it, though.

My bus journey to uni* near the centre of Madrid often took a full hour, so I always made sure I had an English book with me: The Old Man and the Sea, Alice in Wonderland, Animal Farm, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Third Man, Pride and Prejudice, Three Men in a Boat, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, King Lear, Robinson Crusoe, To Kill a Mockingbird …

I read so many wonderful books on that bus.

When I think of those titles, I flip their pages in my mind and relive their stories. It’s like carrying a private library within me.

Moving to Scotland, my new home

When I finished my History degree, I applied* to the University of Edinburgh, in Scotland, to do a Master’s in English Literature.

After all those years studying English I was now going to spend twelve months of my life reading. Reading literature, the thing I love most; and reading it in English.

It was the biggest reward* I could dream of, and a magical year.

After finishing my Master’s degree I made two big decisions that I’ve never regretted.

First, I chose to stay in Edinburgh instead of going back to Madrid. And then I decided never to work for someone else. I wanted to be independent.

So, instead of looking for a job, I set up my own business as a translator and language teacher.

Translation turned out to be disappointingly dull*, and I soon dropped it. But I became passionate about teaching. For me, every new student is an opportunity to change someone’s life forever.

Over the years I’ve shifted* my language lessons from the real world to online. That has given me the freedom to travel the world with Simon, my English husband, a Professor in the Linguistics department at the University of Edinburgh.

We share a passion for language, cycling and hillwalking. Together we’ve been to faraway* countries, met fascinating people, and seen wonderful places.

When I look back, I see how the English language has opened a door for me to another universe.

It’s given me a different way of seeing people and the world; a different way of talking about human emotions, history, food, life, and even the weather. And, I hope, it’s made me a better person.

As I write this in English, I can feel how much richer my life has become with a second language. But I wouldn’t have got here on my own. My journey to fluency was made possible by Mr Collins and my other teachers.

And, just like they guided me, I now wish to guide you through your journey to English fluency.

Play Maria’s free English pronunciation lesson

Do you know these 29 English words?

To help you expand your English vocabulary, here are the definitions of the 29 words I’ve marked in this post with an asterisk.

Most of those words have several meanings. Below I’ve given you the most relevant definitions for this post.

• to abridge : to shorten or contract by using fewer words, yet retaining the sense; to condense.
• academic : a member of an academy, college, or university.
• amazing : very wonderful.
• to apply : to make a request; to make an application; to solicit.
• bobby : a nickname for a policeman. From Sir Robert Peel, who remodelled the police force.
• broken : imperfectly spoken, as by a foreigner.
• to browse : to look leisurely at the goods displayed.
• dull : uninteresting; tedious; cheerless.
• to embark : to engage, enlist, or invest in any affair.
• faraway : distant; remote.
• a head start : an initial advantage in a competitive situation.
• hooked : devoted to, obsessed with.
• to let go of something : to release one’s hold on something.
• masterpiece : anything done or made with extraordinary skill; a supreme achievement.
• to mutter : to utter words indistinctly or with a low voice and lips partly closed.
• no way : never; under no circumstances; absolutely not.
• nutter : an insane person.
• poignant : affecting or moving the emotions.
• to put something to the test : to find out how useful or effective something is.
• to read something out : to read aloud.
• reward : that which is offered or given in return for some service or attainment.
• in a row : in succession; one after the other.
• to set the ball rolling : to initiate an action.
• to shift : to transfer from one place to another.
• silly : foolish; witless; simple.
• syllabus : an outline of the subjects of a course of lectures.
• task : any piece of work.
• thrilling : producing sudden, strong and deep excitement.
• uni : (colloquial) a university.

MARIA FERNANDEZ

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[ jur -nee ]

a six-day journey across the desert.

Synonyms: tour , jaunt , excursion

a desert journey.

a week's journey.

the journey to success.

verb (used without object)

Synonyms: peregrinate , rove , roam

/ ˈdʒɜːnɪ /

• a travelling from one place to another; trip or voyage
• the distance travelled in a journey
• the time taken to make a journey
• intr to make a journey

Discover More

Derived forms.

• ˈjourneyer , noun

Other Words From

• journey·er noun
• outjourney verb (used with object) outjourneyed outjourneying

Word History and Origins

Origin of journey 1

Synonym Study

Example sentences.

If either is selected, it would not launch until 2026 at the earliest, and would take at least a few months to make the journey.

The job is a cherry on top, but the journey and the experience of being able to audition and leave your heart in the room and feel good about it, no matter what happens, that’s rare and that was amazing.

Cross-device measurement helps connect the dots of your customer’s journey and ensures you know how effective your campaigns are at driving user behavior.

You are somewhat of a new grandmother and you’ve been enjoying that journey.

Instead of having numerous articles addressing each of these particular questions, brands and publishers could consolidate this information as it is all pertinent to the same stage of the journey that the user is in.

The brokers then scout out potential “crew members” who can earn substantial discounts for working the journey.

The next day, after driving to Putney on the outskirts of London, we start the end of our journey.

The NYPD Emerald Society pipes and drums struck up a slow march and the procession began the journey to the cemetery.

We began a journey with Koenig in the first episode of Serial.

But the sunlight is threatening to fade and a three-and-a-half-hour river journey back to Kisangani looms.

With a hammer the boy knocked off some of the slats of the small box in which Squinty had made his journey.

Then summoning a smart young jemadar with whom he had talked a good deal during the journey, he asked him to read the chit.

But dismissing them from our thoughts for the time being, as we did then from our presence, let us continue our journey.

If the journey is now distasteful to her, she has but her own rashness to blame in having sought it herself.

It was past sundown when they left San Bernardino, but a full moon made the night as good as day for their journey.

Related Words

• exploration

What Is The Plural Of Journey?

Plural word for  journey.

The plural form of journey is journeys (not journies ). Words that end with a – y preceded by a vowel ( a, e, i, o, u ) are made plural by adding an -s at the end, as in chimney / chimneys and monkey / monkeys . 

This can be confusing, because the plural form of words that end with a – y and are preceded by a consonant is made by changing the ending to -ies , as in party / parties , candy / candies , and duty / duties .

More About Journey

What does  journey mean.

A journey is a trip, especially one to a faraway place that takes place over a long period of time.

The word trip can refer to any instance of traveling from one place to another, no matter how long or short it is. The word journey , though, typically implies a long trip—one that’s at least several hours, and perhaps several months or even years. It also often implies adventure—a journey might even be a quest . A journey may or may not have a planned destination other than whatever lies ahead.

The word is also commonly used in a figurative way to liken any lengthy process or progress to such a trip, as in Life is a journey, with many interesting detours. 

Journey can also be used as a verb meaning to make a long trip, as in We must journey to the land beyond the mountains.

Example: My favorite books are about people who make epic journeys around the world.

Where does  journey come from?

The first records of the word journey come from around the 1200s. It comes from the Middle English word journee , meaning “day,” ultimately from unattested Vulgar Latin diurnāta , meaning “a day’s time” or “a day’s work.” In English, the meaning of the word journey originally meant something like “a day’s travel,” but eventually came to mean “a long trip.”

A journey can last a day but the word usually refers to longer trips. The word is sometimes preceded with the mode of transportation that’s used, as in The city is reachable only by a long train journey. Discussion of journeys often involves their destination or purpose. When people say, “It’s the journey , not the destination,” they mean that the significance and value of a journey is what happens along the way, from moment to moment, as opposed to the achievement of its ultimate goal.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to journey ?

• journeyer (noun)
• outjourney (verb)

What are some synonyms for journey ?

What are some words that share a root or word element with journey ? 

What are some words that often get used in discussing journey ?

• destination

How is  journey used in real life?

Journey is very commonly used in a figurative way.

I ask you to accompany me on my journey to Chile and Peru in your prayers. — Pope Francis (@Pontifex) January 15, 2018

Life is indeed a journey. Successful is he who can navigate the ups and downs without losing his balance. Don’t dwell on your past, don’t wallow in self-pity, don’t repeat your mistakes, don’t focus on negativity, help others along the way, spread kindness wherever you go! — Mufti Menk (@muftimenk) August 17, 2020

Some people around us will not understand our journey. They don’t need to; it’s not for them — Paulo Coelho (@paulocoelho) May 4, 2019

Try using  journey !

Which of the following words is a synonym of journey ?

A. voyage B. trip C. trek D. all of the above

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Which is correct: "in my journey" or "on my journey"?

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in my journey

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to describe experiences or events that happen during a journey.

• In my journey to the mountains, I discovered a hidden waterfall.
• I faced many challenges in my journey to self-discovery.
• She met interesting people in her journey around the world.

Alternatives:

• during my journey
• throughout my journey
• on my travels
• along my journey
• as I journeyed

on my journey

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to refer to the physical act of traveling from one place to another.

• On my journey to Paris, I stopped in London for a day.
• I met a kind stranger on my journey home.
• She read a book on her journey to work.
• while traveling
• as I traveled
• as I made my way

Last updated: April 09, 2024

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Definition of journey noun from the Oxford Advanced American Dictionary

Want to learn more?

Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.

My English Language Journey: The Ultimate Guide!

For one, it will improve your economic chances in the world. If you are an average or below-average employee with mediocre skills who have not studied English abroad, your job availability might be limited in certain countries or industries where people do speak English and a degree in language may open doors for employment that otherwise would remain closed to you.

My English Language Journey

Language learning is one of my lifelong aspirations. In fact, a few years ago when I had nothing to do with making money whatsoever and was just hanging out in tourist-dense cities while working as an English tutor, I realized that maybe I would have better luck spending a year or so abroad learning some languages, In addition, I had to consider the fact that I was never really good at languages. At the time, I knew some Spanish and French, but no other language (and certainly not English). My first experience with an intensive language course was when I studied Japanese for two years in high school and college.

English learning journey Today

My English Language Journey as I continue to experiment and read books on learning languages. Based upon the authors’ success stories that I’ve read over the years (and my own personal struggles), it looks as though immersion programs are based on the most efficient ways for people aspiring towards mastering a particular language or subject matter at an expert level. In other words, each individual has their own aptitude which determines how effective they will be with these types of teaching methods.

English skills, types of English speakers, what I can teach you to speak other languages as a teacher, How to speak other languages in a few sentences learn other languages quickly, If you want to learn French, German, or Arabic I have 5 great books. Topics: How do people learn another language? ways professionals are learning other languages faster., Seven categories of how people speak and what this says about the path that they took in their personal development as an individual., If you’re interested in becoming fluent fast with English at night while working full time according to your busy schedule., Ways to learn a language in less than 10 minutes.

My first experience at learning English at school

1-The best way to learn a language is through immersion methods (e.g., living away from the mother tongue for many months)

2- Having English to at least “B1-” level or equivalent (i.e. you could get by without any tutoring and be understood if communicating in an emergency situation).

3- To save grammar and vocabulary the first time – then only expand once you know it.

4- If a person wants to give up on learning other languages, or has already stopped – most adult students can’t learn new vocabulary and grammar properly at the start of their language course (second) time.

5-The pronunciation of the first (only) time you learn an unfamiliar language will be poor. This can impact your ability to be understood on a daily basis in less than 3 months if it’s not worked on properly; so even though you might have reached “B1-” You won’t really sound like that with any accuracy, or safely anyway.

6-Speaking a foreign language is hard, much harder than it sounds. We don’t realize that until we’re there and have been studying for a long time but still get frustrated. The goal of many people (consistently learning to speak) is not “to sound like the person they think they should sound like.

7-The long way to learn English is listening to tv shows or native speaker reading materials, which is especially good for those who want to start speaking English.

5 Great English Books for Beginners

1- Is this woman trying to convince you into buying a new hair-do? Learn 100 words in English. No, really!

2– I’m just not interested in this kind of book for beginners… but yet it’s amazing. *review by one reader*

3– “Worth its price”. The pithy language and amusing analogy playing on their subjects possess the rare ability to make even seemingly trivial statements grippingly memorable.

4- It always amazes me when people manage to pick these up in a little over 2 months and know the basics of English so well as if they had been working on it forever. He’s taken his time and practiced hard This is what you should do, too!

5– A book without pictures or diagrams might seem boring, but this one is not quite that way. It can be adequately described by saying: “Lots of pictures with a little text.”

Why the English language is important in our life?

The English language is important in our lives for several reasons:

Global Communication: English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It serves as a common language that people from different countries and cultures can use to communicate with one another. This is crucial in today’s interconnected world, especially in business, diplomacy, science, and international travel.

Access to Information: A significant portion of the world’s information, whether it’s on the internet, in books, or in academic journals, is available in English. Proficiency in English allows individuals to access a vast wealth of knowledge and resources, which is essential for education, research, and personal growth.

Education: English is often the medium of instruction in many prestigious universities and educational institutions worldwide. Proficiency in English is crucial for students who want to pursue higher education or participate in exchange programs abroad.

Career Opportunities: In many industries and professions, having a good command of English is a valuable asset. It can open up job opportunities and enhance career prospects, as many multinational companies and organizations use English as their primary language for communication.

Cultural Understanding: Learning English can provide insight into English-speaking cultures, including their literature, music, movies, and values. This can foster cross-cultural understanding and help individuals appreciate and respect diversity.

Travel and Tourism: English is often the lingua franca in the tourism industry. Knowing English can make traveling more comfortable and enjoyable, as it allows individuals to navigate through airports, hotels, and tourist destinations with ease.

Internet and Technology: A significant portion of the internet is in English, and many technology-related terms and concepts originate from the English-speaking world. Proficiency in English is beneficial for using and understanding technology, software, and online platforms.

Global Business: English is the dominant language in international business. Many international contracts, negotiations, and transactions are conducted in English. Proficiency in English is crucial for anyone involved in global business or trade.

Personal Growth: Learning a second language, such as English, can enhance cognitive abilities, improve problem-solving skills, and boost self-confidence. It can also open doors to new experiences and opportunities, leading to personal growth and development.

Social and Cultural Integration: In countries where English is the primary language, proficiency in English is essential for immigrants and newcomers to integrate into society, participate in community activities, and build relationships.

In summary, the English language plays a vital role in our lives by facilitating communication, providing access to information, enhancing educational and career opportunities, fostering cultural understanding, and enabling personal growth in an increasingly interconnected world.

My journey of learning English, why it is difficult for most?

Learning English is a challenging journey, Because it is a complex language, with many irregular verbs and especially spoken English. But that difficulty is complimented by its flexibility as well as being able to use so many words in everything you do – make your life better!

The new language the road to English is paved with obstacles. Websites, like the one you are on right now, [informal] makes learning and practicing easier by breaking down new language into small chunks while they provide hundreds of examples so that anyone can learn how to use the word or phrase successfully in whatever purpose it serves – often in widely divergent situations which traditional texts fail at and games do not present.

In short, to learn English you need to know how to learn. And that is where we come in. There are many of these learning guides, which is why I came up with this website myself. We will be adding more resources to it over time. Some have already been added, but aren’t completed (such as the vocabulary lists) because some information about them was taken from elsewhere or simply not available for whatever reason.

English language learning will allow you to communicate effectively with people from all over the world, making travelling a lot easier and helping you to learn more about different cultures. The importance of English language can be seen in almost every aspect of our lives. 1

How do I start my English learning journey?

• Set clear goals for learning English.
• Assess your current English proficiency level.
• Choose a learning method (e.g., classes, apps, videos).
• Build a strong foundation in grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
• Practice regularly and consistently.
• Expand your vocabulary daily.
• Listen to and speak with native English speakers.
• Read and write in English.
• Join English language communities for support.
• Set achievable milestones and celebrate your progress.
• Seek feedback for improvement.
• Be patient and persistent in your learning.
• Immerse yourself in English as much as possible.

How to my English language journey?

• Set clear goals.
• Assess your current level.
• Choose a learning method.
• Build foundational skills.
• Practice regularly.
• Expand your vocabulary.
• Listen and speak with native speakers.
• Join language communities.
• Set milestones, seek feedback, and be persistent.

How can I track my English language journey?

To track your English progress:

• Take regular assessments or tests.
• Keep a language journal.
• Use language learning apps with progress tracking.
• Record and review your spoken and written English.
• Set and achieve language milestones.
• Seek feedback from teachers or language partners.
• Monitor your comprehension of English media (e.g., books, movies, news).
• Compare your current abilities to past performance.

In conclusion , the English language journey is not just a process of learning a new language; it is a transformative experience that opens doors to a world of opportunities and connections. As we’ve explored in this article, mastering English has become an essential skill in today’s globalized society. It enables us to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, access a wealth of knowledge and information, and pursue international careers. Moreover, our English language journey is not merely about words and grammar; it’s about cultural exchange, personal growth, and building bridges between different cultures.

References:

• 6 reasons why learning English language is important | TLG Blog . (2021b, September 27).

Synonyms of journey

• as in to travel
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Thesaurus Definition of journey

 (Entry 1 of 2)

Synonyms & Similar Words

• peregrination
• commutation

Thesaurus Definition of journey  (Entry 2 of 2)

• peregrinate
• road - trip
• knock (about)
• perambulate

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“Journey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/journey. Accessed 8 Jul. 2024.

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Definition of 'journey'

journey in American English

Journey in british english, examples of 'journey' in a sentence journey, related word partners journey, trends of journey.

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Here’s How My Language Learning Journey Started… What’s Your Story?

“love the life you live. live the life you love.” ~bob marley.

I heard this quote from the reggae legend, Bob Marley, 4 years ago when I first started my journey to master Portuguese, and it has stuck with me ever since.

I know it’s not Portuguese, but these words have constantly been in my head for the past few years throughout my journey.

I started my journey chasing these wise words from Bo b Marley and with the dream of living a better life. However, the journey hasn’t been easy. Just like you, I have had difficulties understanding native speakers, forgotten vocabulary, mispronounced words, and been afraid to speak in public.

Without these struggles I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I wouldn’t be here sharing my experiences in order to help you grow along your journey to English fluency.

Every day, I think about the story that I’m writing for my life. I am the creator of my own reality. Every choice I make has an influence on my destiny.

I’ve learned along my journey that if you want to “love the life you live” and “live the life you love” right now, simply stop for a moment, take a deep breath, and just think about how great it is to be alive today.

Be grateful for your health, family, friends, nature, clean water, your job, a fresh cooked meal, your bed, and a good night’s sleep. There is an abundance of things to be thankful for.

Then, shortly after, go do something that you are afraid of. Step outside of your comfort zone, and lean 1  towards discomfort.

As the talented comedian Jamie Foxx says: “What’s on the other side of fear? Nothing.”

I like to imagine our deepest fears as big internal “dragons” that our mind creates. We can face our fears and slay our dragons with gratitude. Instead of running away from them, accept and appreciate them as challenges along the journey.

On the other side of fear is our biggest opportunity to grow. When you slay your dragons, you are rewarded with a new level of confidence, power, and courage. You unlock your unlimited potential as a human, and are able to “live the life you love.”

I discovered this truth along my journey to Portuguese fluency. A journey that has had its ups and downs, heartbreaks 2 , and victories.

Although as a RealLife English coach, I can now say that I understand the process of learning any language, it wasn’t always that way. My journey to Portuguese fluency has been a tough 3  process that actually started years before I even had any desire to learn the language.

My Ordinary World

Here’s a picture of me playing football in high school.

Looking back, my adventurous journey to master Portuguese probably started in a similar way to your journey with English.

My journey started in a pretty ordinary place, in a small suburb outside of Washington, D.C. called Ashburn, in the state of Virginia. Ashburn is a quiet, comfortable place where the most exciting event each week is usually the local high school football game.

Not many people know where that is, so when people ask me where I am from, I always tell them that I’m from DC.

I wasn’t studying Portuguese at the time actually, but rather Spanish. In high school, I studied Spanish for 3 years, however I struggled to really learn it. I basically memorized the vocabulary and grammar from the books so that I could pass my tests, but if someone came up to me in the street speaking Spanish, I would have no idea what to say.

I had even worked for my dad’s company on construction sites in the summer with people from Central America, and would get upset that, after studying Spanish for 3 years, I still couldn’t understand any of them.

Since I was really frustrated with my inability to understand native Spanish speakers, I had decided to give up on learning the language and to focus on learning other subjects, such as science, and playing football in high school.

As you can probably tell, I was a really shy teenager growing up. I grew up in a small town environment of safety and comfort. I was really afraid to go out on my own, to explore the world, and meet new people.

The fear of the unknown and discomfort that comes with meeting new people, trying to express myself, and speaking a language other than English in public have always been the biggest dragons in my life. They have held me back from doing the things that I really want to do and becoming the best version of myself.

I bet you have had a similar experience along your journey to English fluency. Whether you are just starting or pretty far down the road, you know that nervous feeling you get when you are about to do something that scares you in English.

Do you run from that feeling of fear? Or do you face it when it comes up?

Embarking On My Journey

Let’s fast forward 4  to my college days where all of this started to change with one simple decision.

After high school, I continued to follow my passion for science and football by choosing to get a degree in geology while playing football at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia. Lexington is a small town located in a valley in the Appalachian Mountains.

During my college days, this small town in Virginia helped me find my love for nature. When I arrived on campus for the first time, everywhere I had looked was surrounded by beautiful mountains, flowers, trees, animals, and rivers.

For the first time, I started to explore the world and my passion for nature on my own while studying geology. I started to travel to exotic locations around the United States, such as Zion Canyon in Utah, to understand the earth and its processes a little bit better.

I felt a connection that I had never felt before from finally facing the discomfort of exploring the unknown beauty of nature. My experiences traveling and connecting with the natural world changed my perspective.

I wanted to deepen that connection, so instead of finishing my senior year of football in college, I made the big decision to quit from the team so that I could study abroad in Rio de Janeiro, a city known for its beautiful beaches, forests, and mountains, and learn Portuguese.

I felt like Brazil was literally calling me, and I was ready to answer it. I knew it was time to accept the challenge to learn Portuguese, and start to face my fears for once.

But wait… I bet you are thinking about my experience with Spanish.

Why would I try to start a new language?

I wanted to restart. I wanted to try to learn Portuguese with a clean slate 5 . I was tired of running from my fears, and I had a feeling that Rio would be the perfect place for me to learn Portuguese, deepen my connection with nature, and of course spend some time relaxing at the beach.

In addition to connecting with nature, I wanted to connect with Brazilians and learn about their culture, so I restarted my language learning journey by ordering a book called Learn Portuguese in 15 Minutes and signing up for a year of Portuguese classes at my college (which seemed logical at the time).

After a year studying Portuguese and preparing for my trip to Brazil, I found that I had the same difficulties that I had learning Spanish. I could read and write okay, but it was really tough for me to speak it and I couldn’t really understand natives.

I felt discouraged again, but this time I wasn’t going to quit. I had learned my lesson from my failures with Spanish. This time I was determined to learn how to speak Portuguese. It was important for me to have determination in this moment in order to keep going and to achieve my goals.

I learned that I would have to be patient with myself and the journey. Instead of thinking about becoming fluent in 3 months or 1 year, I approached learning Portuguese as a lifelong journey.

I’m 4 years into this journey, and I believe that I have just started. There’s just so much to learn. You always have room for improvement.

I imagine that if you are reading this, you really want to improve your English skills. Understand that throughout the journey there will be moments where you will be upset with yourself or feel frustrated that you aren’t making any progress. Maybe you can’t understand native jokes, or maybe you are afraid to speak English in public and make mistakes.

Whatever happens, don’t give up. Stay determined. Keep finding resources and ways to get better along the journey.

No matter where you are at in your journey, you’ve come way too far to quit.

What’s Your Story?

Now you know how my adventure with Portuguese got started.

It had very humble beginnings. I was never the best language learner. I even quit learning Spanish early in the process.

I may be an English coach, but I’m far from perfect.The story of how I started on my Portuguese journey is likely similar to your English journey.

I “love the life I live” today because I know how it feels to struggle when you are first learning a language. I connect with that pain because I went through it multiple times. Today, I find so much pleasure in being able to help English learners such as yourself grow.

This is how my Portuguese journey started: with many mistakes, failures, and painful moments. Reflecting on all my experiences, I can now say I have a deep appreciation for everything. Each challenge was a lesson to be learnt, and today I feel like all the work I’ve put in to improve my Portuguese has been worth it.

Whether you are just embarking on your journey as a lifelong English learner or have been learning English for a while, there will be a number of challenges that you will encounter.

Zig Ziglar once said: “You don’t have to be great to start. But you have to start to be great.”

The key is to start, and to make a commitment to the journey. I promise it will be the best decision of your life.

If you have enjoyed hearing how my language learning journey started, follow along as I share my experiences learning Portuguese while teaching English in Brazil next week.

In the meantime, if this article has inspired you, I would love to know more about your journey to English fluency.

Now, it’s your turn to have some fun and share your story. Answer the following question, and tell me about your heroic journey to conquer English in the comments section below.

What is the most important lesson that you’ve learned so far on your English journey?

Today is the day to accept your call to adventure and start improving your English abilities.

Download a FREE copy of the RealLife English Manifesto and begin your journey to English fluency!

Vocabulary from this article

• lean: to move in the direction of something
• heartbreaks: difficult losses
• tough: difficult
• fast forward: an expression that means to go to an event or time period in the future
• clean slate: a new opportunity

Hello, Zach Barney! It is a great story about your life and journey! I live here in Brazil since I was born and I’m aware of how it could be hard in the beginning for you. I share the same experience as you. Most of the time, I feel like I’m not making any progress, and improving my English skills. However, I’m so grateful because I’m alive, I have friends, clean water, etc. I remember my first day in class at School (English Course), it was 4 years ago and before that, I didn’t have any contact with English during my High School. I confess that I was not afraid, but when the Teacher started to speak and said: We cannot speak Portuguese in class only English, in that time, I’ve become afraid of English because my own dragons woke up. But, I faced, slay them. Now I speak without worry about mistakes, grammar, and judgment from other people. We know that many people who succeed in life, business, sports and so on, failed one, two, three … many times before they got glorious.

I’d like to congratulations you and the other guys members of this amazing team. You have great resources and nice article to share with us. Thanks a bunch!

I really appreciate your comment Sodre!! Your story is really inspiring as well. I’m glad that you feel motivated to continue along the journey to RealLife English fluency with me. WE are in this together!

Hi, Zach!! thanks for sharing your personel story to fluency. Realy inspiring. I’m Maks.. from Kyrgyzstan one of the former soviet union republics. Probably I’m the only one from KG in fluency circle. First I got interested in learning eng and somehow become fluent when I was in 5th grade. At the time we happened to have one the first group of volunteers teaching eng abroad. I still remember that guy’s name and he looked like.. His name was Tim (native American ). Our first lesson was something that we’d never experienced. We laughed a lot and had really interesting lesson. I’d never thought that eng could be toughed this easy. So since that I wanted to understand and be able to speak . then after a while me and my family moved to another city.. where of course we had just ordinary boring and having no clue how to teach easy eng teacher. There is too much to say.. I don’t have enough vocabulary. But anyways. I agree with you that we have to be determinate and consistent on our journey.

Hi Maks! Thanks for sharing your story with me! I also agree with you in the fact that if you want to really learn a language like English you need to find ways to make it fun, natural, and convenient. There are a lot of resources outside of a traditional school course where you can learn English such as our online video courses, Learn English with TV YouTube Channel, and even this article. The opportunities are out there you just have to realize how to make the most out of different resources and consistence is a key part of making learning a habit.

hi! thanks for your writing. i am Vietnamese. i have a long time to study English. When i was in grade 6 until i graduated from school, i studied English from traditional courses 9 years. then i worked without using English.After that, i didn’t study English. i recently teach myself at home. i don’t study about grammar , choose a,b,c in the test like i was at school. so i listen to music, read what i am interested in such as diary.com, novels, short story, news… beside that i often listen to ted talks, English speeches, real English, audio books (Robinson Cruise), radio,postcards,watch cartoon in English(Disney), films, TV shows, talk Vietnam, ielts face off…i listen anytime i can such as do housework, wake up, wear clothes, before sleeping….moreover, i write diary to practise writing skill, tranlate Vietnamese to English. i always find ways to study that i can do, i like to do. Recently i seek new ways to study for example write down new words that i don’t know in Vietnemese into a note book, then i look up them in dictionary at the end of the day or study new words in this note book by the way watch it when i have free time, bring note book to me anywhere. But I often study the all sentenses but not study only proper words. I also practise speaking , speak alone, speak following Mr Durcan on Youtube, speak like his tune, speak in front of the mirror ,camera phone or record my voice. After a few months , i improve my listening skills more than i was at school. However, i can’t speak fluently, i have to study more new words,i have to expand knowledge to communicate with other people deeply, i have to study about English culture to understand what they mean. My pronunciation is not good, i don’t know how to pronounce the end of words. i don’t have a friend or a teacher to teach me, correct me. Next week, i will begin to study at the centre of English SAS. i hope i can speak fluently and make friends here. Why do i try to study English? because i am interested in English, i like listening to English music (taylor swilf, adele, …..) i can have a good salary if i speak English fluently and maybe in the future i will need English to help my job.

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Application Essays and Personal Statements/ Careers/ Business Writing Andrea P.

250 hours tutoring, application essays and personal statements/ careers/ business writing application essays and personal statements/ careers/ business writing andrea p..

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About Andrea

Hi, I’m Andrea, a native English speaker originally from New York City. I joined Wyzant in 2019, but my journey as a tutor began in 2001 when I joined the Peace Corps. I have developed a deep understanding of students' needs in editing, proofreading, brainstorming, advising, and co-writing admissions essays, personal statements, and statements of purpose (SOPs) for higher education.

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5 lessons Benjamin Franklin taught me about traveling well

The most widely traveled American of his time, the founding father learned a thing or two along the way.

As a young boy growing up in Boston , Ben Franklin liked to loiter at the local harbor. He’d watch the arriving ships, chat with the sailors, and dream of joining their ranks. That dream never materialized—but Franklin, an American founder, groundbreaking scientist, statesman, and writer, did go far.

He was the most widely traveled American of his time, logging 42,000 miles over the course of his long life. (He died at age 84.) He crossed the Atlantic eight times. As deputy postmaster, he traveled the entire length of the Northeast. He spent a third of his life abroad, living in London and Paris , and visiting Canada , Ireland , Scotland , Germany , the Netherlands , and, for three glorious days, the Portuguese island of Madeira .

Travel enabled him to cast his gaze beyond Puritan Boston and imagine fresh possibilities. What advice might the peripatetic founder offer us modern-day travelers? Here are five lessons, culled from Franklin’s writing and his life, and which I explore in my new book, Ben & Me: In Search of a Founder’s Formula for a Long and Useful Life .  

Movement stirs the imagination

In one of the many contradictions that defined Franklin, travel enabled this most restless of souls to pause—and think. He did some of his best writing and experimenting while on the road or at sea. It was on a bumpy carriage ride from Philadelphia to Albany, New York, in 1754 when he composed his brilliant and prescient plan for colonial unity . It was on an Atlantic crossing to London in 1757 when he wrote his famous “Father Abraham’s Speech” (later retitled “The Way to Wealth.”). On another Atlantic crossing, to Philadelphia in 1774, Franklin’s opposition to British rule gelled and, at age 69, he became a fervent American rebel.

Franklin joins a long list of creative people who found inspiration on the road, from Charles Dickens to J.K. Rowling. There is something about movement that stirs the imagination. As the Swiss philosopher (and Franklin contemporary) Jean-Jacques Rousseau said: “I can scarcely think when I remain still; my body must be in motion to make my mind active.” So, next time you leave home, bring a notebook and pen. You never know what ideas might arrive unbidden.

(He was a Founding Father. His son sided with the British.)

All great travelers are great actors

On the road, far from family and expectations, we feel lighter, and free to play different roles. No one knew this better than Benjamin Franklin. He slipped in and out of character as effortlessly as Tom Hanks. In London, he played the part of the proper English gentleman; in France, wigless and wearing a marten fur cap, he transformed himself into the folksy, backwoodsman philosopher. (The French ate it up.)

Franklin knew he was playacting, wearing sundry masks, and winks at us while doing so. He was what the philosopher Alan Watts called a “genuine fake.” Genuine fakes are not con artists and they are not deluded. Genuine fakes so fully inhabit their role—their role s—there is no distance between part and person, mask and face. Next time you’re on a journey, try on a mask or two. What do you have to lose?

Improvisation can rescue a journey

Franklin was an accomplished swimmer, at a time when few people, not even sailors, could stay afloat. He swam in Boston’s Charles River and later in London’s Thames and Paris’s Seine.

He plunged into other kinds of unfamiliar waters, too. He took chances while traveling, and embarked on journeys when the outcome was far from certain. When he ran away from home at age 17, he had no idea what awaited him in New York or Philadelphia. In 1757, he traveled to London for what he thought would be a six-month assignment. He ended up staying for 17 years. Later, when the ship carrying him to France encountered uncooperative winds and couldn’t dock, Franklin commandeered a fishing boat to take him ashore. When leaving France eight years later, and too sick to make the carriage ride from Paris to the seaside town of Le Havre, he convinced the French queen Marie Antoinette to lend him her personal litter.

As a traveler, Franklin made plans—he was a methodical person, after all—but always remained flexible. He was a master of improvisation, one of the key tools in any traveler’s kit.

Not all destinations are equally good

As a young man, Franklin drew up a list of 13 virtues he intended to follow. One was sincerity, or honesty. And that he was, especially when it came to travel. He was finicky. He knew what he liked and what he didn’t. Had Tripadvisor existed then, he would have been every hotelier’s worst nightmare. In France, he chastised innkeepers for poor service. In England, he described a Portsmouth hotel as a “wretched inn,” where even the stationery was shoddy. He called the town of Gravesend “a cursed biting place”, whose inhabitants expertly relieved travelers of their money.

Yet when he liked a place, he was equally vocal. During a six-week visit to Scotland, he experienced the “densest happiness” of his life. On a trip to France, in 1767, he effused about the beauty of Versailles. “The range of building is immense, the garden front most magnificent…the number of statues, figures, urns, in marble and bronze of exquisite workmanship is beyond conception.”

Franklin knew that travel demands discernment; not all destinations are equally good, and that to love every place is to love no place. His advice: Call them as you see them.

Bad trips can turn into great ones

We’ve all had bad trips, journeys where, despite our best planning and intentions, everything goes wrong. Franklin had his share of bad trips, too—an ill-fated journey to Montreal at age 70 nearly killed him—but he didn’t fret or sulk about them. He converted them into something useful: fodder for one of his many essays, perhaps, or a good tale to tell friends over a glass of Madeira.

(Why bad trips can make for great stories.)

One bad journey proved transformational. Only 20 years old, Ben was sailing from London to Philadelphia. The ocean crossing was plagued from the beginning. At one point, a shark circled the ship, forcing Ben to skip his daily swim. Onboard, a card cheat was uncovered, as well as a reckless cook who depleted their food reserves. The winds blew infrequently or, when they did, from the wrong direction. A journey that should have taken four weeks took 13.

With time on his hands, though, Franklin decided to reform himself. He devised a “Plan of Conduct” and vowed that “henceforth, I may live in all respects like a rational creature.” His plan consisted of four simple rules. Pay what you owe. Say what you mean. Focus on what matters. Treat people kindly.

Franklin had departed London one person and arrived in Philadelphia another. He knew that every bad journey contains the seeds of a very good one.

Related Topics

• EDUCATIONAL TRAVEL
• TRAVEL AND ADVENTURE
• AMERICAN REVOLUTION
• COLONIAL AMERICA
• ADVENTURE TRAVEL

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