Could you ever think of going to live abroad for the whole year, e.g. to Canada to study English? At present, as travelling is fast and secure, it has become very trendy. Nevertheless, even though the idea is interesting, there are both rewards and drawbacks.
Learners who think of studying abroad can notice a lot of its advantages. One of them is almost no possibility to speak the student's mother tongue. This is the best way to gain fluency in using the target language, and to practice the right intonation and articulation. Besides, somebody who lives far away from home gains new knowledge and can be trained to find one's own solutions to everything and be consequent about it. Moreover, while studying abroad for the whole year, one meets a lot of people and makes friends with some of them, sometimes for life.
On the other hand, there is dark side to it, too. First of all, the expenses for the whole year of stay in a foreign country. Only several families are able to meet such costs. The second problem is the young people's isolation from the family and associates whom they miss. Despite of their homesickness, they are unlikely to come back. It is also easier said than done for many of them to accept foreign ways and adjust their behaviour so as to follow the new rules.
All in all, learning abroad is an excellent option for those young people who are aware of their national character and heritage. It offers a great opportunity for those smart and motivated students who are prepared to live away from home and begin a new stage of mature life.
