Studying English as a second language abroad

The content of your course will depend on your motivation for studying. If you are hoping to become an English teacher, you will not only learn the language, but also the appropriate teaching methods needed for application. If you are taking an English language course to simply improve your language abilities, this course will be shorter and cover only the language basics.

English language courses come in different forms and serve different purposes. You can learn English for the workplace, or academic English to help facilitate your studies in an English-speaking country. There are also courses to equip you for Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL), Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), as well as those that help prepare you for the IELTS, TOEFL or Cambridge exams.

Unless you are studying for a degree, you will not necessarily gain an award on an English language course. Whilst you won’t be awarded any sort of accreditation, your course will still be recognised by institutions as long as your language abilities have been improved to their standards. If your course does offer a certification, this could range from a Diploma or Certificate, to a Bachelor Degree.

The duration of your course will depend on what sort of course you are studying. They can range from one week courses, all the way up to three years if you are studying towards a degree. There may be options to study full-time, part-time, or online.

On successful completion of your English language course, you can choose to progress to a range of things. You may choose to start an English-taught degree, become a teacher, or continue work with your increased English skills.