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Student views
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Hai-Ning Chen (Taiwan),
St Paul's School, QLD, Australia
'[I wanted to study overseas] because I think it is a great way to improve my English as well as get to know another country's culture. I have studied here for three years and I found the school because two of my friends studied here. [The best thing about studying here is that] I get to know a huge number of people from all over the world and become good friends. I have improved my English a lot as well.
I live in a homestay which has a mother and her daughter. I call the host mother 'Mum' because it makes me feel at home and she is just as good as my own mother. She loves and cares for me like my parents do. At home I talk and joke with them as a family. Sometimes we go shopping together. We get on really well so I am extremely happy that I stay with her in Australia.'
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Denise Sponda (Rio de Janeiro),
English and Tefl Institute, Durban, South Africa
'A friend of mine who lives in the city told me about the school and I am studying English for six weeks. [I came here] because when we study in another country we can speak quicker than when we stay in our country and we can meet different people from other countries too.
The system of the school is very open. We can say when we want [to do] something different and we have intensive attention because we are only three in the students [in the class].
The interesting thing about this country is the culture which is very different and a mix of Indian, black and white culture. It is a very beautiful country too with beaches, mountains and places to [go on] safari.'
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Sakolpat Wirojwong (Thailand),
Shirley Boy's High School, Christchurch, New Zealand
'[I wanted to study overseas] to learn the English language. My mother found out about the school on the internet and I am studying in years 10 and 11 for fifteen months. I wanted to come to Christchurch and [I chose the school because of] the number of students - 1,200 - which is not too many and not too few.
[The best thing about studying here] is the Kiwi accent of the teachers and students [and the worst thing is] no girls. I live with a Kiwi homestay family about two minutes walk to school.
[It is weird that] there are so few people [in New Zealand] compared to Thailand and there are no snakes in new Zealand. Also it is very quiet in New Zealand compared to Bangkok.'
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Ahmed Farooq (Pakistan),
Hartwick College, NY, USA
'This is my first year at Hartwick College and I plan to major in computer science and physics. I wanted to study in the USA as my father did to get the best opportunities in my future career.
Hartwick College has been better than I expected it to be. It is located in a very beautiful place. Before coming here I had doubts about the academic environment but I have found out that it is very challenging and demanding, and the people here are very friendly. The professors are great and everyone is willing to help.
I live in a dorm on campus. It is a quiet, smoke-free, alcohol free and substance-free building. On weekends the whole community seems to leave the town and go to clubs and bars.
Hartwick College is a great place to study and get into shape - it has many hills on campus. Oneonta is a great city to live in. The whole community is very welcoming and understanding.'
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Bethany Brady (USA),
Linguae Mundi, Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
'I am currently doing a masters degree in London and wanted to do the research for my thesis in Latin America, so I needed to improve my Spanish and though Spain was the ideal place to do it. I was fortunate to discover Linguae Mundi through the local tourism office in Jerez de la Frontera and I did a super-intensive Spanish language course over a period of two weeks.
[I chose the school because] the first day I went to visit, the students were in the middle of cooking up traditional Spanish dishes for an afternoon fiesta on the rooftop. I also liked the small size of the school, the personal attention by the superb instructors, the charming setting of Jerez, reasonable prices and flexible schedules. My learning experience at Linguae Mundi far exceeded my expectations.
I stayed in a lovely shared flat in the centre of town - only a ten minute walk from the school. Everything was arranged through the director. It was great to live with a few other students as well as locals who could show us around. It was also super to have a private room, a kitchen to cook in, common living areas, a patio with beautiful views and to be right on the main street to watch all of the Semana Santa celebrations below.'
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Jackie Massie (USA),
Columbus School for Girls, Weimar, Germany
'I only had three weeks in Weimar [on an exchange visit] but I attended Spanish, math and chemistry courses. I didn't really go with any expectations. I was surprised by the amount of teenage smoking I saw and the fashions are very different. The best thing about studying in Germany was hearing the language as something people just woke up in the morning and said, as opposed to a school subject.
I stayed with a host family and I loved it. I really got lucky with a host sister who I will write to for years. Anyone who has the opportunity should study abroad. It teaches you more than just a language and you could make some great friends.'
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