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Home from Home at School: Learning a Language Abroad

While the UK government remains ambiguous in its attitude to immigration, EU regulations allow many migrant workers to live and work wherever they choose in the region.  For those seeking employment in the UK one of the most essential skills to master is the language.  Learning English as a second language can not only help you to find employment in the UK and open opportunities to study in the country, but it can be a useful skill for anybody with a thirst for travel.  English is one of the main global languages along with Spanish, French and Mandarin.  The latter is probably the most commonly spoken language and is certainly becoming a truly global language. However thanks to a long history of European colonisation the European languages still remain widely recognised and are also first languages in a huge range of countries across the globe.  English is the most significant of these and taking ESOL qualifications will make travelling or living in countries as varied as the US, Australia and India a simpler prospect.



Basic to Proficient

With the advent of the internet and a range of technological innovations, it is possible to learn a second language from nearly anywhere on the planet.  For those living in EU countries it's relatively easy to learn English in your home nation and the language is commonly learned at school level in many of these countries.  However as EU nationals are subject to less onerous travel and residency restrictions in the UK it can make sense to study the language in its native country.  For many of these students a language school in the UK offers a number of distinct advantages when it comes to real proficiency in the language.  This approach has been used by many people in order to prepare for the Cambridge ESOL exam as a simple way to not only learn the language but begin to understand the culture of the UK.
Endless Homework
For anybody who has tried to learn a foreign language there can be no doubt that the fastest route to success is by doing so in a country in which the language is spoken.  Language classes can easily teach you the basic rules of the language and the vocabulary.  Exams like the Cambridge ESOL exam are based on the technical aspects of the language such as learning to read, write and speak it, while also attempting to understand the minefield of English grammar.  However, classes can only go so far in helping any individual to master the realities of language.  Beyond the class, when learning in the UK, you'll need to practice your skills at all times simply to access basic services.  Apart from this constant approach to 'homework' there are other advantages to learning ESOL in the UK. 

Safe and Homely Environments
Many language schools arrange the practical details of your trip and offer a safe, secure and supportive environment in which to visit a new country.  A number also rely on the use of host families to accommodate students during their stay.  This has offers a huge advantage to those learning the language as it offers the chance to become part of the life of a British family and learn far more about the culture and language than would be possible by simply taking classes in your home country.  Students studying in the UK and staying in this type of accommodation tend to report that not only does it make it far easier to prepare for Cambridge ESOL exams, but that the environment can help to get a fuller appreciation of the language and learn to integrate into the culture.

Frankie Hughes is a freelance writer who believes in learning new languages the easy way by immersing yourself in them.  She believes you can prepare for Cambridge ESOL exam papers most effectively by studying in the UK itself.  

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