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If you’ve ever dreamed of watching your favourite TV shows in English or even reading Harry Potter to find out just what ‘Hogwarts’ means (a little hint? Absolutely nothing), you’ve come to the right place. This article will give you five tips for learning English abroad.
Learning English abroad: location, location, location
The first question you should ask yourself is where you ought to go when learning English abroad. There are a lot of things to take into account here, but if you want a new experience without breaking the bank, the UK and Ireland are only a stone’s throw from France. If the idea of Brexit scares you, Ireland has lots of pretty towns and beautiful scenery to offer, as well as plenty of ‘craic’. This cute little Irish word might be unknown to you now, but after a few weeks in Ireland, it’ll be part of your vocabulary too.
Choosing a language school
You really have to do your research in this area. There are lots of schools that will promise you the earth but that deliver very little in terms of learning English abroad. I advise you to look for a school that has a good reputation as well as welcoming teachers who will make you feel at home from the moment you arrive. You’re lucky when it comes to choosing schools in Ireland since the work is already mostly done for you. Whether you choose the capital Dublin or the more relaxed atmosphere of Cork, a warm welcome awaits you in Ireland.
Avoiding distractions
s an English teacher myself, I often see students getting easily distracted and not progressing as quickly as they ought to. I only have one piece of advice: put away your phone. I understand all too well the feeling of FOMO (fear of missing out) when you’re far from your family and friends, but if you’re serious about learning English abroad, you have to be ‘present’. And I don’t just mean on the attendance sheet.
How to progress
Learning English abroad isn’t always a walk in the park – there will be difficult days where you feel useless compared to everyone else. Hang in there, though, you’re not alone. Any teacher worth their salt will talk to you a little every week about your weaknesses as well as your strengths (let’s not forget the latter!) You’ll be able to pinpoint the areas that need work and improve your English with the help of your teacher.
And after all that effort… you’re still not finished
The classroom isn’t the only battleground when learning English abroad. The ubiquitous DuoLingo is a free app that’s super easy to use, helping you improve all your language skills with short daily exercises. You also have a range of series to watch in English with your classmates – Game of Thrones is back on July 7th, there’s a new series of Gilmore Girls as well as the new Black Mirror to name but a few. All of this awaits you on your adventure abroad, not to mention the opportunity to make some English-speaking friends. So what are you waiting for?
