Welcome! Bienvenidos! So you’ve decided to take an English language program abroad. Congratulations!
Before you book, it’s important to spend some time thinking about what you want to get out of your time away. Choices such as the location and duration of your course can have a big impact on your experience, as can your choice of accommodation and who to go with.
With so many things to consider making your selection can seem overwhelming. So we’ve put together this guide to help you choose the right course for you.
Town or City?
If it’s your first time away from home and you’re not from a big city yourself, you might find a town or small city an appealing option. Towns and small cities generally have a friendly atmosphere and are easier to navigate. Being able to walk from your accommodation to class and not having to worry about getting lost can be a big advantage! In a small town you might also find it easier to meet and talk to local people, something that many people say is the highlight of their time abroad.
On the other hand, transport connections might be more limited than in a city, so if you plan to use your destination as a base for exploring you might find a small town less convenient. The nightlife on offer will usually be significantly lower-key than in major cities – this might not be such a bad thing if you are there to study though!
Iconic destinations such as London and New York will no doubt be top of the list for lovers of city life. Mind-blowing cityscapes, frenetic nightlife and captivating culture all give you the chance to combine a study course with the trip of a lifetime.
Remember though that the cost of living in big cities can be much higher than in smaller towns, so you would need to increase your budget to cover eating, drinking and travel costs. Not to mention shopping!
Length of Course
Most study programs can last from one week to a full year. Of course, how long you choose to spend studying abroad will depend on your personal commitments and budget. If you are planning to use a grant to fund your trip for example, there will usually be a minimum duration specified by the organisation providing the grant.
Most people find that they need a minimum of two weeks to settle in to a course and really feel the benefit, although a week of intense tuition can be just as effective if you have the required dedication and motivation!
The opportunity to spend a term or longer in an English speaking destination will give you time to experience things you would never have time to do on a shorter trip. Having the chance to get to know a destination and the people who live there can help you feel less like a tourist, and really get to grips with the language and culture.
Bear in mind that the further you go, the more time you will need to allow for travel time and recovering from the journey. If you only have a short amount of time available, consider a European destination such as London or Ireland to take advantage of shorter journey times. A shorter course might also be a good idea if this is your first trip away from home alone. You can always go for longer next year….
Alone or with Friends?
Taking a study trip abroad with a friend or group of friends means you have someone to share the experience with – travelling solo can also be a daunting experience if you have never done it before. The idea of having someone to spend the evenings and weekends with (and someone to help you with your homework) can certainly be appealing!
But travelling with someone you already know can mean you are less likely to mix with other people on the course and make new friends. Despite best intentions, if you travel with friends from home you will probably spend most of your free time speaking your native language and not English. Meaning you could miss out on what could potentially be one of the most important elements of your learning experience.
Consider forcing yourself out of your comfort zone and travelling alone – you could find you grow in confidence and make a heap of new friends as a result.
On the other hand if it is your first time away from home or you feel particularly nervous about spending time alone in a foreign country, think about travelling with someone you already know. Just make a pact to spend time apart, and time speaking English!
Accommodation
There are a huge range of accommodation options available for anyone taking an study course abroad. Among the most popular accommodation choices are family stays or student residences.
Opting for a family stay means you live with a host family for the duration of the course, taking part in family life and mealtimes. Living with a family will mean you spend more time practising your English with native speakers, and have the chance to experience the local way of life at first hand. A family stay will usually be the least expensive accommodation option, although you could find yourself having to travel up to 45 minutes to from your accommodation to the course location each day.
Bear in mind that your experience with a family stay will depend largely on how you approach it – you will need to embrace being a guest in someone else’s home, and abide by their rules. Arriving home at 3am after a night out with your new-found friends may not be considered acceptable behaviour by some hosts!
Staying in a student residence offers more flexibility – you will live with other students in a shared building (either in single rooms or shared flats), which offers plenty of opportunity for socialising and meeting new people. With most residences you can also choose to have all or some of your meals in-house, although you will usually have to decide and pay at the time of booking your course.
Other accommodation options include hotels and apartments which offer higher levels of privacy and comfort – at a higher price.
And Finally….
Remember that a good course provider will be only too happy to spend time helping you choose the right options for you, so don’t be afraid to pick up the phone. It is important to choose a reputable course provider who knows the destinations and study centres they offer first-hand. You should be able to speak to someone who knows the pros and cons of each destination, and the accommodation options on offer.
If you feel that the person you speak to is simply speaking from the brochure or doesn’t offer to come back to you with more information on a specific question, move on and try another organisation.
Lawton Language Services have been running English language programs overseas for over 30 years. If you would like more information on any of the courses offered by Lawton Language Services, please contact us on 902 995 372 or info@lawtonschool.com
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