Are you interested in doing an exchange in England? Contact us to assist you.
Today, knowing English is non-negotiable in this globalized world. Thus, the question is not whether to learn this language, but where and when to do so. Regarding the first question, it is known that, among other countries, the United States, Australia, and Canada are presented as interesting options for learning English, but many wonder if England is a better option in this regard. Although that decision will depend on the particular needs of each student, in this article, we will tell you the five reasons why choosing the United Kingdom as the country to go on exchange:
1. The peculiarities of its education
You may have heard of the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, and for good reason: they are respectively the 5th and 6th universities worldwide according to the latest top universities list; and those are just 2 of the 25 universities in the United Kingdom that are among the top 100 in the same list.
As if that weren’t enough, degrees are shorter in the United Kingdom than in other countries. Indeed, undergraduate degrees usually last three years, and a master’s degree can be completed in just one. This is a great advantage since in just four years, a person can have a master’s degree and enter the job market with a privileged position, speaking English, too!
2. Where English was born
It is debated whether the largest territorial empire in history was the British or the Spanish, but what is certain is that during the 19th century, that award went to the British Empire, hence the saying, “the sun never sets on the British Empire”; this is the reason why English is spoken in so many countries. Now, as mentioned, it will depend on the needs of each student when deciding to go on exchange to one of these countries or another, but there is an indisputable fact: English was born in England.
It can be argued whether its accent is liked or not, or whether it is convenient to learn the version of this language from another country, etc., but the “original” English is that of the United Kingdom; the other versions, although totally valid, are variations of British English. So anyone who wants to learn English from its source should go on exchange to England.
Why exchange? Among other reasons because this activity ensures that the student is constantly exposed to the language, not only in classes but also in their environment, which includes their host family.
3. The European factor
Both Europeans who do not want to make a transoceanic trip to learn English and those who live on any of the other continents and want to visit Europe will not find a better option to learn English than the United Kingdom. Indeed, British English is preferred by Europeans.
4. Leading exponent in many artistic expressions
Do you like music? The United Kingdom saw the birth of groups like The Beatles, Pink Floyd, The Police, The Cure, and Led Zeppelin. More recent artists? Radiohead, Coldplay, Jamie Cullum, and Ed Sheeran. Do you like reading? Agatha Christie and Arthur Conan Doyle were British, but also Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings), J.K Rowling (Harry Potter), and George R. R. Martin (Game of Thrones). Those are just a few of the many renowned artists from England.
5. Tourist sites
The Beatles Statue in Liverpool, England
There is so much to see and do in the United Kingdom. Museums, monuments, pubs, concerts, double-decker buses, restaurants serving local food but also from many other cultures, visiting Big Ben, going to Bristol, Bath, the Lake District, South Dorset… The United Kingdom is truly amazing, and during your free time, you will have multiple recreation options.
All of the above leads us to answer the second question posed in this article: When to learn English? The answer is as soon as possible, as the benefits associated with learning this language warrant it; and an excellent way to do so is by going on exchange to England.
