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If you need to decide where to go for language study abroad, there may be more things to consider than you think. Even after choosing a country based on basic factors like living environment, climate, and geographical location, you still have to decide which region to go to, and once you've chosen a region, which language school to attend.Based on my language-study experience in Canada, I've compiled Advantages of language study in CanadaI will subjectively discuss them. I hope this gives stronger confidence to those who have already chosen Canada as their country, and provides useful information about studying language in Canada to those who haven't yet decided on a country or are about to choose a language school.
Every year many Korean students go abroad for language study. According to statistics compiled by the Ministry of Education as of April 1 each year, last year the number of Korean students studying abroad (including university and language study) was 223,908, an increase of 4.3% (9,212 people) from 2015. Among them, the main countries preferred by Korean students going for English study arethe United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canadaare commonly chosen.
The United States has a complicated visa issuance process and safety concerns, so it is not easy to readily choose it as a language-study destination. The UK has very high living costs and may be a financial burden, and Australia has a very high proportion of Koreans and a distinctive English accent, so you might end up learning a non-standard English pronunciation that would be hard and time-consuming to correct once it becomes a habit. Thereforeone of the most sensible choices isCanadaIt is. You can easily obtain a six-month tourist visa online and use it for language study. The cost of living is similar to Korea, and you can maximize the effectiveness of your language study by choosing a region according to your preferences. I will explain in more detail below why you should choose language study in Canada rather than in other countries.
1. Effective teaching methods seen in Canada's public education
Canada's educational methods are so innovative that educators in our country benchmark them, and their excellence has been proven. Like the U.S., Canada separates federal and provincial governments, and each provincial government can exercise autonomy in education. In particular, educational innovation models in Canada's public education are introduced as examples, and these seem to have significance in that they are carried out on the basis of creating a safe educational environment and respecting diversity.
Canada is known for being generous in its support for education, and especially as a country made up of immigrants, it designs educational environments and curricula so that all students can be interested in learning, preventing educational disparities.It does. In particular, in language-related subjects,"All students can be successful language learners."It starts by emphasizing the belief: 'All students can be successful language learners.' It holds positive expectations for learners and considers it important to increase access to education regardless of their environments and circumstances.
Canada's perspective on education applies not only to public education but also to private language schools. As Canada has many immigrants, it has various systems and environments for learning second languages. Because immigrants' native languages are not English, language institutions where they can learn and practice English operate in various forms.
Most teachers at language schools also come from a variety of hometowns, so if you are of the same nationality or a similar culture, you are given an environment where you can learn English more comfortably. Thanks to educational systems that respect and consider people with different languages and cultures, rather than feeling discrimination or difficulty due to language, you can learn English in a positive and free atmosphere, and as a result experience improved language acquisition ability.
2. Wide range of language schools to choose from depending on your preferences — large or small
Unlike the United States, where large chain language schools dominate the study-abroad market, Canada is better known for and served by small, independent language schools. Because of this, in Canada you have the opportunity to choose a language school according to your personality or study style, allowing you to create optimal conditions to improve your language skills.a country with high satisfaction levelsis also one of them.
When studying abroad for language learning, you need to choose what type of language school to attend. First, schools can be divided by size into large, medium, or small language schools. Generally, a large school means over 1,000 students, medium-sized about 400–800, and small under 400.Pros and cons of schools by sizeare clearer than you might think.
The larger the language school, the more opportunities there are to mingle with students from around the world, and classes and other programs are organized in a systematicway, so you can enjoy classes with friends while learning the language. On the other hand, each class has many students, so intensive individual attention is not provided. Meanwhile,the smaller the language school, the more likely you are to build close relationships with teachers and classmates, and because one-on-one care is well provided, a sense of belonging or solidarityis easy to develop. However, it is difficult to expect diverse social experiences or a systematic management system.
The language school I attended in Canada was medium-sized, so I could experience the advantages and disadvantages of both large and small schools. Class sizes weren't large, which allowed natural interaction with teachers and classmates, and especially in conversation-focused classes there were many opportunities to speak, providing interactive lessons. However, there were drawbacks, such as a nationality ratio that was too skewed among students, or supplementary classes and special lectures held after regular class hours not running due to insufficient numbers.
Language schools can also be classified by affiliation as well as by size.Private language schools and university-affiliated language schoolsare examples of that.Private language schoolsare, as the name implies, private institutions for learning languages and operate independently. The curriculum and course offerings within the school arevaried, ranging from everyday conversation to certification preparation and university entrance preparation, and the biggest advantage is that you can enroll in classes for any desired period at any time of the year.
University-affiliated language schoolsin the case of, especiallythey often have strengthened courses for university admission, and if you have basic skills, they are courses chosen to build intermediate or advanced language abilitiesYou could say. Located on campus, there are many opportunities to meet fellow university students and experience campus life. However, because class start dates are aligned with the academic term, there are restrictions on application timing.
3. Provision of high-quality classes and professional instruction
Many private language schools in Canada are accredited by provincial governments or the Ministry of Education. There are also language schools accredited by various international educational organizations related to language.In Canada, although they are private institutions,officially accredited language schoolsBecause these make up the majority, you can trust the quality and content of the education provided by the schoolsThis means you can trust them. There are many language schools affiliated with universities in Canada; such schools offer more specialized language programs and the advantage of providing information needed for university admission or transfer.
It's a mistake to assume that studying abroad will automatically improve your English! The effectiveness of language study abroad varies greatly depending on which school and what classes you take. Even well-known language schools in Gangnam have many foreign instructors. But why do many people go abroad for language study when they could stay in Korea? There may be various reasons—experiencing foreign culture, travel, and so on—but I believe the quality of instruction is the biggest reason.
In reality, foreign instructors are not well managed in Korea. Because they are native English speakers, people assume—just as we expect Koreans to be fluent in Korean—that they must be fluent in English, and they are praised as if that's remarkable. Looking into the facts, I've seen news reports that some did not major in education, have no experience teaching languages, and some even have criminal records.
Does attending a school abroad solve this problem? Many language schools abroad also have instructors who lack professionalism; the effectiveness of classes and students' improvement are neglected, and many teachers simply kill time. Therefore, when choosing a language study abroad institution, the most important consideration is whether it is a place where you can properly learn the language.You should carefully check whether the school professionally manages its instructors, whether the teachers at least have degrees related to language or education, and whether they have teaching experience.Here's a tip: to find out whether any language school is truly competent, find out which classes are most popular with students and check who teaches those classes. At the language school I attended in Canada, the most popular class was conversation, which was exactly what I needed. As a result, I could clearly feel my skills improving while taking the class, and thanks to the know-how and ability of the teacher who specialized in conversation, I enjoyed learning English.
4. Opportunities to gain various job and work experience linked to language study abroad
The most effective way to consolidate improved language skills after studying in Canada isan internshipThis is because it is an opportunity to use what you learned at school in everyday life with locals and to apply it to work. An internship does not require exceptionally high English ability.Many language schools in Canada offer internship programs that introduce students to organizations or companies affiliated with the school, and schools provide time to prepare so that the internship will offer sufficient practice and learning.So you don't need to worry. If you simply have the willingness to experience an internship, you can definitely do it.
After completing three months of language study, I did about a three-month internship as an office assistant at a general company that manages and arranges home doctors, through an internship program arranged by the school. Above all, because the placement was arranged by the school, I was able to gain work experience at a stable company, and working in an office with real Canadians helped me fill gaps in my English that weren't addressed at school, so it felt like doing language study twice.
If you want more professional work experience, I recommend Canada'sco-op program.A co-op program is a system that combines study and practical training; you take classes for a set period and then do field practice for an equivalent period.It is. And since you can legally work during the study and practicum periods, you have the advantage of gaining a wider range of experiences. For example, if you choose a six-month co-op program, you would study for three months and then do field practice for three months. During the study period you may work part-time up to 20 hours per week, and during the practicum you can work full-time 40 hours per week. Thus you can reduce your financial burden to some extent.
While most people prefer Canada's Working Holiday, which allows legal work alongside language study, there is a waiting period from application to participation and no guarantee of obtaining a visa, so the co-op visa is considered an alternative to the Working Holiday. Co-op programs can be short-term or long-term depending on the duration, and may be paid or unpaid. They can also be classified for those aiming for long-term immigration or employment. Choosing a co-op program allows you to receive specialized education at a professional business college or vocational college rather than a general language school, and to gain actual field experience and build a career through practicums. Depending on your interests, you can study and do field practice in a variety of areas—from tourism services, business, and trade to banking, securities, and investment—building differentiated skills through diverse job experiences.
In this way, Canada offers a wide variety of programs to experience internships in many fields, from tourism and food and beverage services to regular corporations. Internship experience in Canada can be a great help for your future career. It's an opportunity to experience the work culture of a developed country and build a global resume! By combining language study and internships in Canada, you can gain work experience in your area of interest, significantly improve your English, and challenge yourself with job experience.
Rather than assuming that going on a language study abroad program will automatically improve your English, it's important to prepare and gather information in advance.It's important to do a language study program that suits me.I also, when choosing a language program, only checked that the language school was linked with an internship and neglected other things to check like the region, the size of the language school, the credibility of the language institution, and so on. Fortunately, I was able to study at a reasonably sized, well-known language school, but I slightly regret that if I had thought more and considered more options before choosing, I might have been able to study in an environment more suitable for me.
Information related to language study abroad is so extensive that if you research or prepare by yourself, you may end up focusing only on the areas you're interested in and find it difficult to obtain comprehensive information. First, getting information from people around you who have experience with or interest in language study abroad can be one method. However, this method may also have the limitation of providing only limited information. The best method is to go to a trustworthy place to obtain objective information.Rather than an agency that insists on sending students abroad unconditionally, if you get counseling or recommendations from a place that understands and respects your individual tendencies and characteristics, you'll be able to have a language study abroad experience you won't regret.
By Editor Bora A person who hopes to be a small help to someone someday. Always dreaming of escape and of freedom unbound by anything :) |