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Koreans' most preferred language-study destinations!Canada VS USA VS UK"
The usual reason people choose Western countries for language study is to properly learn native English pronunciation and expressions within a systematic education system, combined with the romantic appeal of living in the West. However, language-study costs are no joke. Therefore, rather than simply thinking, "I'll go to the region I like!", it's important to make the most reasonable choice by considering your personality, goals, cost-effectiveness, and local conditions together.
Therefore,We will examine and compare, in great detail, everything for each country: "Canada VS USA VS UK"From overall costs to language-school-only expenses, living costs, and accommodation, we aim to compare each item as thoroughly as possible, so we hope this helps you choose the country for your language study.
PART 1. A quick comparison of Canada VS USA VS UK!
NoteThese costs compare urban language schools with about 10 students per class and may vary depending on the country or region, the school, class size, and class hours. Also, since costs can differ greatly depending on the length and timing of participation, local prices, exchange rates, and personal spending habits, this should be used as a reference for country comparisons. In particular, language schools and accommodation are generally cheaper for longer-term participation, so costs may differ from those shown here for a 4-week short-term period. The most important thing is to use this information to understand basic facts about each country and then consult a reliable professional consultant. |
Canadais five times, it has a pleasant environment and high educational standardsIt also has relatively low overall prices, strict gun control, and low crime rates, making it one of the safest places in the world. If you've come to a new country and want to travel around and see things but your English isn't strong yet, it's better to choose a safe place. Moreover, among English-speaking countries it uses some of the most standardized pronunciation and expressions, and because Canada recognizes both English and French as official languages, it is a country that constantly researches how to learn multiple languages more easily and quickly and develops a variety of teaching methods. As the country itself places great emphasis on education, provides a lot of support for education, and has a well-established education system, it is one of the most preferred countries for language study.
Unlike the United States, which has strict visa issuance, you can enter Canada on a tourist visa and study for six months and, by applying for an extension locally, stay for a total of one year. Also, many go to Canada on a working holiday, and it's common to do about 3–4 months of language study before finding a job to settle in properly. Although there are initial settlement and language-study costs, you can earn much more money through a working holiday, and since the jobs and wages you can get depend on your English skills, we recommend that those considering a Canadian working holiday first take language study in Canada.
* Assuming about a 12-week language study in Canada, the total cost would be Approximately 10 million won
United StatesBecause we have been taught and tested in American English from elementary school through adulthood, it is one of the most familiar English-speaking countries. Therefore, when most Koreans think of going abroad to study English, 'the United States' is the first country that comes to mind. Studying in the U.S. has the advantage that expressions and pronunciation are much more familiar than those of other English-speaking countries, allowing for quicker adjustment to learning English. Also,as the center of global politics, economy, culture, and education—and with the world still largely centered around the United States—living in America is good not only for studying English but also for broadening one’s global perspective.Simply living in and being immersed in the United States will greatly broaden your way of thinking and values.
And because the U.S. is geographically large and generally well developed, with language schools distributed across American cities, it is characterized by a wide range of options depending on study costs, city atmosphere, weather, and personal preferences. In the U.S., it is also relatively easy to pursue formal study, so after a language course...it is recommended for those who plan to enter a U.S. university/graduate school or who dream of working abroadHowever, overall living costs, including language school tuition, are very high, so unless you are planning to attend a U.S. university/graduate school or seek overseas employment, going to the U.S. solely to learn English may be questionable. (Of course, it’s a great place if you can afford it or want the experience of living in the U.S.!)
* The total cost for about 12 weeks of language study in the United States is approximately 14 million won.
United Kingdomisthe birthplace of English and, along with New York and Tokyo, one of the world’s three major citiesand is a country many people with a European dream choose, especially since English is used within Europe. British education, along with American education, is known to be among the highest standards in the world, and therefore it is characterized by many language schools with tradition and strong quality. The proportion of Asians, including Koreans, is the lowest while the proportion of European students is high, and because you can travel to nearby European countries at low cost while studying, it is one of the preferred destinations. Of course, this rosy picture comes after you have adjusted to life in the UK to some extent. At first, adapting to British pronunciation unfamiliar to us and fitting in among European friends can be really difficult. And London is notoriously expensive.
Therefore, some people who dream of studying English in the UK choose suburban areas outside London, but personally I am opposed to studying outside London because it seems to defeat the purpose of language study. In fact, in these three countries most language classes finish by late morning. You should then spend the rest of the time experiencing the country’s culture, socializing with many foreign friends, and continuing to use English to improve your skills, but if you are in the outskirts of London you may find yourself spending much of the time after morning classes just zoning out alone.I recommend language study in London, UK, for those who are somewhat financially comfortable, who dream of traveling in Europe or living in Europe, or who have chosen a career path in the arts and culture.I recommend it.
* The total cost for about 12 weeks of language study in the United Kingdom is approximately 13 million won.
Once you have a general sense of each country, since the main purpose of going on a language study abroad is to improve language skills, let’s compare the countries based on the language schools you will attend locally, excluding other factors.
PART 2. Comparing language schools: Canada vs. United States vs. United Kingdom!
Language study abroad costs areGenerally, Canada is the least expensive, while the United States and the United Kingdom are at similar levels.However, in Canada there is not much difference in language study costs by region, whereas in the U.S., because language schools are spread across a vast area, if you shop around you may be able to find a school that fits your budget. Also, as mentioned earlier, in the UK people sometimes go to areas outside London because of the high cost of living, but if you only consider language study costs excluding living expenses, you can surprisingly find inexpensive schools even in London. But the important thing is that cheap does not automatically mean good!
When you go to study abroad, how much you personally speak during class is important, and in the U.S. or the UK, language schools that are cheaper than the average tuition...number of students per classThere are often more than 20 students. In particular, Korean students often feel they must believe their English is perfect before speaking, whereas Western students, including Europeans, will frequently speak confidently even if their English isn't very good; so if you go to a place with large class sizes, you might go for language study but be intimidated and not say a word! Therefore, the fewer students per class the better, but in these countries, taking language courses in small groups can make tuition very expensive, soSelect a language school with a maximum of around 10 students.This is recommended.
There may be slight differences depending on the region or language school, but overall, because of lower costs, Canada has ahigher percentage of Koreansthan the U.S. or the U.K. Therefore, some people hesitate to go to Canada for language study, but if it's your first time studying abroad, if you've never lived abroad for an extended period, or if you have anxiety about foreigners because of your English skills, it may actually be better to go to Canada where the percentage of Koreans is higher. It's not that you must make Korean friends, but having fellow Koreans there provides psychological comfort and helps you adapt to the local environment more quickly. The faster you adapt locally, the sooner you can focus on studying the language. Especially in the U.S. or the U.K., there are generally more students from Europe and Latin America than from Asia, so at first you may really feel like a foreigner — in fact, some people who can't adapt end up staying in their accommodation rooms for months and not coming out until they adjust.Above all,checking your current situation and disposition is the most importantthing to do.
And since each country has its own characteristics, the activities provided by language schoolsactivitiesalso differ slightly, but since these take place with other international students attending the language classes anyway, unless an activity is directly related to a field you want to pursue or your career path, you can just view them as fun.
Canada is known for its outstanding natural environment, so it generally offers many outdoor sports activities in natureIt is. If you are usually active or like sports, life in Canada will be really enjoyable, and even shy or reserved people can easily make friends with foreigners through various outdoor activities.In the case of the United States,there are regional differences, but as soon as you step out of the language school there are so many sights, places to go, and things to do that you'll find yourself exploring cities across the U.S. Andbecause party culture is well developed, language schools frequently hold parties and events— this is a characteristic.In the case of the United Kingdom,being in Europe, it naturallyhas many activities related to culture and the artsThese are common. Activities such as visiting art galleries, museums, and club days are held, and since most places even offer exhibitions/operations for free, there is the advantage of being able to enjoy them without financial burden.
So to summarize,
- Compare class hours and costs based on language schools with 10 students or fewer per class.
- Don't choose an outlying area just because costs are low.
- Instead, I recommend choosing another country to study in a city-center location and visiting the country you originally wanted as a trip.
- If it's your first time studying abroad or you have no long-term experience living overseas, I recommend going to a place with a certain proportion of Koreans.
Based on these criteria, if you are going on a language study trip not for a specific purpose but to improve your English skills,Canada is the most cost-effective option.It is.
Then next, let's compare the cost of living and prices in each country, which are as important as the language schools!
PART3. Comparing life in Canada vs the USA vs the UK!
Each year, the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), the economic analysis arm of the British weekly The Economist, sets New York, USAas the baseline for the cost of livingat 100 and publishes the 'Worldwide Cost of Living' report for 133 major cities, reflecting prices across 160 categories such as food, clothing, housing, transportation, and tuition. Generally, the cost of living in the US and UK is known to be exorbitant, but as shown in the table below, in the second half of 2015 the city prices in Seoul, the UK, and the US were almost at similar levels.
Although the prices in the UK and US are said to be exorbitant, Korea also consistently ranks within the top 10 in the world city cost rankings, so you can consider the daily living costs to be similar to those in Korea. In other words, you will live in the UK or US with expenses similar to what you spend in Korea, and additional costs for local travel or activities will make it slightly more expensive. In fact, in the second half of 2016,Seoul's cost of living was ranked 6thamong the top-ranked, andNew York was 9th, London was 24thso Korea's prices are much higher; keep this in mind when choosing a language study destination.
Then what about the cost of living in Canada, which is not shown in that table? Among the 133 major cities in the second half of 2016CanadaVancouver ranked 39th in cost of living, Toronto ranked 86thin the rankings. Generally, if Korea and the US are set at 1, London is about 1.5 times cheaper, and Canada about twice as cheap. In particular, prices for daily necessities in Korea are extremely high—shopping in Korea can cost nearly 50% more than shopping in New York—so depending on how you live locally, it can actually be cheaper than in Korea!
Most students on language study programs choose either a homestay or a residence unless they have family or a place to stay locally.Homestayis staying with a local family, allowing you to directly experience everyday life that is hard to encounter otherwise; it is popular because it is safe and easy to adapt to.It is. Of course, it is much cheaper than residences. However, if most language schools are located in city centers, homestays are often 30 minutes to an hour away from the school, so you must consider commuting time and transport costs. Also, in the UK the homestay culture is not yet well-established, so it's hit-or-miss which family you get, and in the US, being farther from the center can raise safety concerns, so many people studying in the US or UK use school dormitories or residences. If dormitories or residences are financially burdensome, one option is to stay in a homestay for the first one to two months to adapt locally, and then rent a house with friends or find a cheap short-term place once you've settled in and made friends.
Student dormitories or residencesare close to the language school and comfortable and fun because you live with peers.Additionally, because you're constantly with friends and chatting a lot, your English skills can improve greatly. You might not experience a local family's life, but you can truly see how young people from around the world live and enjoy themselves. Roommates can buy groceries and cook together, which greatly reduces food costs. Generally, dining out or tourist activities in all three countries are much more expensive than in Korea, but daily necessities and groceries are much cheaper than in Korea, so many students prefer to cook their own meals.
Transportation costs also vary by distance, so if a homestay family is placed far from the language school, transportation costs increase. Especially in the US and UK where transport is expensive, you can save on transportation, so people tend to prefer residences or student dormitories within walking distance rather than homestays. How much pocket money you spend—aside from accommodation and food—on activities and travel depends on the individual, but all three countries are great for travel, so many people spend weekends traveling around the US or Europe. My personal opinion is that even if you cut accommodation and food costs, you shouldn't reduce your pocket money. Spending time doing various activities with foreign friends offers far more to see, hear, and feel than what you learn in language school. Also, since you've gone all the way to that country, I think it's best to enjoy as many activities as you can there.Generally, in Canada people use about 500,000 won per month for pocket money, while in the US or UK they spend more than 500,000 won, soit's good to compare the cost of living by region and the areas you want to travel to and make your choice accordingly.That would be good.
So to summarize,
- Among the three countries, Canada has the lowest cost of living.
- Although the US or the UK are said to have exorbitant prices, in practice they are similar to or cheaper than Korea.
- For Canada, homestay is more recommended; for the US or UK, residence (dormitory) is more recommended.
- Homestays usually include meals, whereas residences require you to cook for yourself.
(Depending on personal preference, some may prefer places that provide meals, while others may prefer cooking for themselves!)
When comparing living costs and daily life on the ground, Canada still seems the best. As mentioned earlier, unless you have a specific purpose, under similar conditions wouldn't the cheaper option be preferable? So meticulous Koreans...seem to carefully weigh everything and choose Canada often.^_^
So, is going to Canada always the right answer?
If you fall into any of these categories, I recommend going to Canada!
- It's your first time studying abroad or staying overseas for a long period.
- You seek value for money where satisfaction is more important than price.
- You want to enjoy local culture and stay safe.
- It takes you a bit of time to adapt to a new environment.
- You want to focus on language study without worrying about daily living aspects.
- You only need enough English to be comfortable in everyday life.
If you fall into any of these categories, I recommend going to the UK or the US!
- You pursue the highest level of satisfaction regardless of cost.
- You have conversational English skills sufficient for basic communication with foreigners.
- You already have experience studying abroad or traveling to multiple countries.
- You easily make friends with strangers and adapt quickly.
- You have a specific reason to go to the US or the UK.
(For example: you are an art major and want to experience European art, etc.)
- You are considering working or studying abroad in the future.
Since the US and the UK are generally similar overall, if you're deciding between them choose according to your personal preferences. Even if you are considering working or studying abroad, if your English is beginner-level or you lack overseas experience, I recommend studying English comfortably in Canada for about three months before heading to the US.
I recommend using the checklist above to go where suits you best. I say 'recommend' because if someone is seriously considering language study abroad, it's better to meet a trustworthy consultant and get proper counseling rather than deciding alone based on online materials. When choosing a country most people say 'I don't know where to go,' but they usually have a leaning, so it can be hard to be objective when looking at online information. The places you wanted to go make you first notice the advantages, while the places you were hesitant about make you first notice the disadvantages.It's best to objectively assess your current situation, budget, and language ability and consult a counselor who can advise you.I think so.However, you should know some basics yourself to get proper counseling; rather than simply saying 'I want a language-study consultation,' it's much clearer to say 'This is my current situation, these are my goals, and these are the countries I'm interested in' when receiving consultation.
By Editor Dongne Unni I like new things and enjoy starting projects, but I'm very practical. So sometimes adults who want to be scolded or criticized come to me on their own. I want to be like a neighborhood big sister—be firm when I need to nag, spread good things far and wide, and be someone anyone can comfortably turn to when they have worries or questions in life. ❤︎ |