You may have been thinking about studying abroad for a while or maybe it’s a new idea that just came to mind. If you’re unsure where to start, you came to the right place.
There are several steps to get ready for your foreign adventure and I will guide you through them:
Choose a country
One of the most important aspects to consider is the country you would like to move to and there is a lot to think about here. Not only the lifestyle and living costs are key but also the culture, the weather and its people. You need go to do extensive research to find somewhere that would satisfy most of your needs. As a starting point here are some English-speaking countries I lived in and a few insights:
The United Kingdom:
Lifestyle: generally indoor
Living costs: expensive, but the minimum wage goes up every year (at the time of writing: £11.44 per hour)
The weather: It’s often rainy, but rarely extremely cold or hot, it’s very green
People: friendly and welcoming, but reserved
Australia:
Lifestyle: mostly outdoor
Living costs: expensive to visitors but very affordable when in employment (current minimum wage (2024) is AUD $24.10
The weather: Australia has four seasons in the south of the country and a more tropical climate in the north, it gets very hot
People: friendly and open, very sporty, they go to bed early and wake up early
Canada
Lifestyle: indoor / outdoor
Living costs: quite expensive, between CAD$15 and CAD$19 depending on the state
The weather: extremely cold in the north, more liveable near the US border.
People: very friendly, generally open and welcoming
Visa requirements
You need to have all documents in place before leaving your country. The best way to start is to look on government websites for all the requirements. You may need police checks from all the countries you lived in, up-to-date vaccines, etc. Be ready for extra fees associated with each document. Depending on the country and the type of visa, it’s important to check the waiting times and this may affect your future plans.
Additionally, if you’re thinking of studying abroad you will also need to search and choose an educational institution and it will have its own requirements of entry.
Language requirements
Let’s not forget about the language. I consider it the most important factor as it will open a lot of doors for you if you are able to communicate in the language spoken in the country you want to move to. When applying for your visa you will generally need to prove your level of language, in most cases English, especially in English-speaking countries. Most countries will require you to have an intermediate English level. There are many proficiency testsa you could take, however, the most well-known worldwide is the IELTS test: International English Language Testing System, accepted across 140 countries.
If you would like more information about the IELTS test, download my free IELTS tips from the pop up box :)
Getting there
Once you obtain all the documents and complete a language test, you need to consider the best way of getting to the country you would like to move to. More often than not you will only have your suitcase with you, whether you decide to ship your other belongings or not, it’s crucial to choose the best route for you to travel. If it’s going to be a long-haul flight, you may consider stopping on the way to have a break and visit another country. I would recommend you search for your flights on a flight search website, Skyscanner is my favourite, to find the best deals. If you’re flexible with your dates, you can find reasonably priced flights at the right times of the year.
Having a good time
You made it! You land in your desired country and, now what? You will probably be full of mixed emotions, excited and apprehensive. Finding a place to live, a job to support yourself, new friends? It can get overwhelming but it’s normal. Remember that it’s a process that has its ups and downs, it’s not always the way you imagine it to be but for sure, every new experience will help you grow and appreciate what you’ve achieved already to get where you are. Enjoy every minute!
#learnenglishwithweronika #eenglish_teacher #englishlanguage #learnenglishonline #movingabroad #IELTSexam
Comments