Experience report by Mirjam Wüthrich about her English language study trip to Cape Town / South Africa
Language study trip to Cape Town South Africa
Why did you decide to go on a language study trip?
As I am currently on a volunteer assignment in South Africa, it made sense to combine this with a language study trip. However, the main motivation for me was not this assignment, but my association work with Youngstars International. Youngstars International is a network that brings together youth organizations from different countries. And as I am on the board there, it is important for me to be able to understand the discussions and documents, which are mainly held in English, precisely.
In which country and in which city did your language study trip take place?
My language study trip took place in Cape Town, South Africa.
When did you complete the language study trip? How long did it last?
I completed my language study trip directly before my volunteer placement in South Africa, which began in September 2016 and lasted 6 weeks.
How satisfied were you with your language study trip to South Africa? What did you particularly like?
My school class was very small, which allowed for very active participation and individual support. The detailed and individual feedback on presentations and written work was also very helpful. I really appreciated going to school in the morning and being able to organize the afternoons freely. It almost felt like a vacation, even though I learned a lot. It was also good to be able to put my English into practice in my free time with other students or with my host family. I am very happy with my stay and have fond memories of it.
What did the English language study trip do for you personally and for your career?
In conversations with friends and coworkers here in South Africa, I always notice expressions that I have learned at the language school. This makes communication easier and it's nice to notice how you can express yourself more and more precisely. Professionally, I also see a benefit in better understanding English specialist literature or the opportunity to attend continuing education, further training in other countries, as the language barrier has been massively reduced.
What tips would you give to anyone interested in a language study trip?
It's good to choose a place that you like and that also has something to offer outside of school hours. After all, it's worth using the language not only in school lessons, but also in your free time, be it with a host family, with friends, in the city or at the movies. The more you are exposed to the new language, the faster you learn it. In other words, the easiest way to learn a language is to learn it where it is spoken. If you are out and about with fellow students from different countries, the temptation to simply converse in your mother tongue is also much less. I can highly recommend the combination of a language school and a volunteer placement or otherwise living and working in the country for a while afterwards. This massively expands and deepens what you have learned without having to invest a lot of money in a school again.
Which language study abroad providers have you registered with?
The registration was made via the provider "Surprise Reisen" and the stay was organized by the IH School Cape Town.
How satisfied were you with this provider?
I felt well looked after, both by the school and the tour operator. The location of the IH School in Cape Town Seapoint was simply great and I would choose it again in a heartbeat.
Pictures from my language study trip to Cape Town/South Africa (click on the pictures to enlarge):
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin
