Language courses abroad

6 reasons to learn a language abroad

• Immersion in the language environment. This is the most significant advantage of studying English, German, French or any other language ​​abroad. Daily communication with native speakers in and outside the classroom will quickly improve your speaking and listening skills. Education will be especially effective if you choose a school that is unpopular among the residents of your country — this way you will not be able to switch to your native language;
• Cultural exchange. Language courses abroad give you the chance to visit a new country not just as a tourist but as a student. School students live in host families, international dormitories, or even in the teacher's home. This allows them to learn local traditions, life, and cuisine from the inside, as well as make new acquaintances with foreigners;
• Overcoming the language barrier. In language schools, the main barrier for all students is to overcome the fear of speaking a foreign language. In group lessons, the student has no choice: he has to express himself in a new language, otherwise, he won't be understood. On average, after 10-14 days, students feel much more confident and lose the fear of making mistakes;
• Getting rid of the accent. On language courses abroad, the student will be able to quickly get rid of the accent by copying the pronunciation of the native speaker, learn to think in a foreign language, and not just translate from his native language. This is facilitated by the use of language in everyday situations;
• Nice bonus in your CV. Employers have always appreciated the knowledge of foreign languages. Proficiency in English has already become a necessary skill, and a good level of German or Spanish will further distinguish the candidate from other applicants. Speaking Chinese or Japanese is a rare skill — such a person is essential for cooperation with the Eastern countries;
• Way to enter a university abroad. Language courses can be the first step for those planning to enroll in a foreign university. Studying in the local language is usually much cheaper than studying in English. This path is often chosen for admission to universities in the Czech Republic, Poland, Germany, China, and South Korea.

Popular languages to study abroad

If you experience difficulties with choosing a foreign language to study, first you should answer several important questions:

• What profession do I want to get?
• Which company do I want to work for?
• In what countries I would like to study / work / live?
• What languages ​​do I like?

English is the most popular language to learn. Due to the number of people studying it, today English has become the most widely spoken language in the world, overtaking Chinese. Without knowing English, it is difficult to find a high-paying job or travel abroad without having issues. It is the language of international communication and office work. English courses with the best academic tradition can be found in the UK and Ireland, the most advanced ones are in the USA and Canada, those wishing to combine language learning with relaxing on the beach can pay attention to Malta and Australia, and for lovers of new exotic cultures Hong Kong, Singapore and India also offer such courses. There will be different prices everywhere, and most importantly, different accents of English.

Spanish language will be an excellent investment in a professional future as it is the second most popular language to learn. Spanish-speaking countries include not only Spain itself, but also more than 20 states in Latin America. Spanish courses are useful when traveling to Mexico and South America, where English is not nearly as popular as in Europe. And knowledge of Spanish will be a big plus when building a career in the United States, where many native speakers of this language live and work.

German is the third most popular foreign language to learn. It doesn't have many native speakers, but Germany is the leading economy in Europe, with the most relevant articles in the fields of industry and medicine published in German. Those who know German can read the originals of Schiller and Goethe, and study for free at the majority of German universities. German courses are also available in Austria, Switzerland and Belgium, but dialects there may differ from the classic literary Hochdeutsch.

French, along with English, can be studied in almost any country. French cultural centers have established themselves around the world through art, food, fashion, architecture, and science. The main destinations for language learning are France, Canada, Switzerland, and Belgium. If you speak French, you can enroll in French universities and study at a very reasonable cost (about 4,520 USD) or count on government scholarships. Students from all over the world annually participate in double degree programs with French universities.

Czech language is a popular way to move to the Czech Republic for higher education and further immigration. There are many language courses in the country that allow students with good results to enter universities without an additional language exam. Czech is a Slavic language, therefore, if you know any other such language, for example, Russian, Ukrainian, or Polish, it will be relatively easy to master it.

Chinese is becoming more and more in demand every year. China has turned from a closed and unknown Eastern civilization into a rapidly developing and prosperous superpower. Today, Russia, the United States, and many other large countries cooperate with China, therefore specialists with knowledge of Chinese are highly valued. The best Chinese courses can be found at universities in major cities in China, but before going there it is better to learn the language at least at an intermediate level due to its complex writing and phonetics.

The Korean language has gained popularity over the past 5-10 years thanks to the worldwide popularity of K-pop artists among young people from different countries. In addition, the South Korean educational system is in the world’s top 10^[1], which attracts more and more foreign students every year. Those who know the Korean language, have a much wider choice of scholarships and study programs. Most Korean language courses run at local universities and accept students of all ages.

How to choose a language school abroad?

• Country of study. The first step when looking for a language school is to choose the country of study. The most logical option is to go to the birthplace of the language, that is, study English in the UK, German in Germany, Spanish in Spain, etc. However, there are many alternative options, because there are countries with two official languages. So, you can also study English in Australia, Malta, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The quality of educational services there is not inferior to schools in the UK and the USA, and the cost is generally lower. It is important to keep in mind that each country has its own specific focus. If you seek admission to the local university It is better to study the language in the future country of study, and international businessmen will benefit from foreign language courses in multicultural cities like Hong Kong or Singapore.
• The location of the school in the city is also an important factor. The level of security in the area, transport accessibility, proximity to the downtown area, place of residence, and local attractions are important. So should you choose a major metropolis or a small town.

• Study materials and teaching methods. When choosing a school, it is important to pay attention to them too. There are schools that emphasize conversations above all else. They are hardly suitable for those who would like to improve their basic grammar. Textbooks are also important. Good schools will use the latest editions of reputable publishers. They are quite expensive, but they take into account all the features of a rapidly changing language.
• Teaching staff. In some schools, students can choose their teacher before the start of classes or change one if something goes wrong. However, it is worth researching the teacher’s track record already at the stage of choosing a school. A teacher should have a pedagogical and/or linguistic education, work experience, the status of a native speaker, professional achievements (for example, published methodological manuals), qualification improvement certificates, etc. All this will help to form an idea about school and understand what to expect from learning.
• Initial language level. In the table below you can see how long it takes on average to master each successive level of a foreign language. The higher the step, the longer it takes to transition. Therefore, when choosing a school, it is important to pay attention to whether there are courses of sufficient duration and intensity for mastering the language at the desired level.

• Extracurricular activities. Language courses only take half a day, if they are not super intensive. The rest of the time should be spent as productive and interesting as possible. Most often, the language schools themselves organize leisure activities for students. Excursions, trips to theaters and cinemas, hiking and travels to neighboring cities, games, and competitions — such activities combine rest and practice of a foreign language. If a student visits the country for the first time or has a poor command of the language, it is better to spend time in the company of classmates. Otherwise, the student can spend his free time at his own discretion.
• Accreditations and student reviews will help you get an opinion about the language school from both the professional community and from students who have already been trained there. It is worth checking the official website of the school, as well as information from educational agencies in your country. If relatives or friends have studied a foreign language abroad, their opinion will also be useful. Reviews and accreditation are an additional guarantee of the quality and transparency of the transaction. Public institutions value their reputation. However, schools with high ratings and popularity can charge significantly more.

Types of language schools

• Network schools have branches in several countries around the world. They work under the same brand, use identical programs and methods. Prices for courses in different countries and cities may vary slightly. Such schools can be trusted, there is a lot of information about them in various sources and it is unlikely that the student will encounter surprises in the educational process. However, it is important to understand that hundreds of groups of students pass through franchise language schools every year, and an individual approach is not always a priority here.
• Independent schools are usually unique, but among them, you can find world-famous educational institutions. These schools usually do not have as many students as their larger competitors, so they gain popularity thanks to word of mouth rather than advertising. However, when looking for a small language school on your own, there is a risk of getting into an institution without a license. The language certificate obtained there will be useless in the future. You should not choose a place to study without expert reviews or recommendations.

Types of meals during the course of language courses

While studying at a language school abroad, 4 main meal plans are usually offered:

• Full board (FB) — 3 meals a day. Such a scheme is usually offered in language courses for children so that they do not have to leave school unattended during lunch.
• Half board (HB) — breakfast and dinner. This type of meal is most common when living with a host family since during lunchtime the student is still at school. If the schedules of the student and the host do not match, you can take certain foods and make your own breakfast. For dinner, it is customary to get together at a set time.
• Bed and breakfast (BB) — breakfast only. The name speaks for itself: in the morning before class, the student can have breakfast at the hotel or school cafeteria, the rest of the meals will need to be purchased separately. Usually, there are shopping malls or cafes near language schools where students go for lunch.
• Self-catering (SC) — the ability to use the kitchen. This option is often found in student residences. Students live in rooms for 1-3 people and cook in a shared kitchen. Students also share household appliances: a microwave oven, a refrigerator, a kettle, etc. You will have to adjust to your neighbors and keep everything clean — but you can have joint dinners and cook national dishes from different countries if you so desire.

Visa for language courses

If you are not an EU national going to an EU state or other visa-free states, you will most likely need a visa to visit other countries. Many schools and educational agencies provide visa support to students. Typically, a short term visa does not allow you to work and cannot be extended. A long-term visa gives you more freedom while being more difficult to obtain.

Germany

If language courses in Germany last less than 3 months, a regular Schengen visa will work. For longer studies, you need to obtain a national visa, namely Sprachkursvisum. A student with such a visa is not allowed to work, since it is assumed that he attends courses with a full load: from 18 hours a week^[2]. After the successful completion of the course, the visa can be changed to a work visa.

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United Kingdom

For taking short-term language courses in the United Kingdom, a short term study visa is required. The visa is issued for a period of either 6 months (if the student is under 16 years old), or 11 months (if the student is over 16 years old and goes to language courses). In addition, if a person already has a British tourist Standard Visitor visa, it can be used to study at language courses for no longer than 30 days^[3]. At the same time, the main purpose of the trip should not be training. Here you have to play coy at the airport checkpoint.

To enroll in programs that are longer than 6 months, a General Student Visa (Tier 4) or Child Student Visa (Tier 4) is issued, with the obligatory provision of a CAS number (Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies) from the educational institution. With this visa, you can work from 10 to 20 hours a week during studies and full-time during breaks. It is mandatory to attend at least 80% of classes.

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Czech Republic

Like most EU countries, a short-term Schengen visa will suffice if you want to take language courses in the Czech Republic that are no longer than 90 days. For longer courses, a long-term visa is required^[4]. It gives the right to work up to 20 hours after receiving the appropriate permit.

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Spain

To attend language courses in Spain, which last up to 90 days, a short-term study visa type C is issued. For longer courses from 90 to 180 days — a long-term study visa type D. The latter allows you to work 20 hours per week during studies and 40 hours per week during breaks and holidays, but only if you have a formal contract with the employer.

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USA

For language courses up to 12 weeks, a B-2 tourist visa is sufficient. Most often, students receive an F-1 visa to attend courses with an intensity of 18 study hours per week. Formally, F-1 visa holders can work at school up to 20 hours a week, but usually, there is no time left for this after school. If it is possible to combine studies and work, you need to obtain a work permit in a special department of DSO (Designated School Official) at your educational institution.

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South Korea

For language courses in South Korea that last for up to 10 weeks, you need a short-term visa C-3 (General Short-Term Visa). It does not allow you to work or stay in the country for longer than 90 days. For the courses that are longer than 10 weeks, D-4 (General Student Visa) is required. It is issued for 6 months and can be renewed. It also gives a student the right to work 20 hours per week during studies and 40 hours during breaks.

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