Studying TOEIC Abroad

A popular option for preparing for the TOEIC test is to travel to an English-speaking country and enroll in a TOEIC exam prep course while there. In fact, thousands of students from around the world visit the US, Canada, England, and Australia for this very purpose every year. Some benefits of studying abroad include:

By studying abroad and immersing yourself in an English-speaking environment, you improve your general English communication skills. You also improve your TOEIC exam score by signing up for a specialized exam preparation program.

If you decide to study TOEIC in a language school abroad, you will need to consider many factors: which country, city, and school? How many hours of study per day / week / month? Which programs – general ESL or TOEIC preparation only? How much? Where will you live – homestay, residence, or private apartment? What's the cost of travel? What's the cost of living? How's the weather?

There are many questions to consider regarding studying abroad but many international students will confirm that it was one of the most enjoyable and worthwhile investments they ever made.

Of course, there are language travel agents or educational consultants in your country who can advise you about language schools and programs. It is worthwhile to visit them, talk to friends who've been overseas and ask around.

Remember that you could experience homesickness and culture shock, in spite of all the Western movies and TV shows you have seen. If you travel in winter, it might be cold and dark. Your favourite foods may not be available, or you may not know how to cook them! Your friends, family, and existing social support structure will all be far away.

Still, many international students feel this is one of the best decisions they ever made – not just in terms of their English language skills but also in terms of broadening their horizons. Most students return with treasured memories of their time abroad. They make friends for life with others from different cultural, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds. More than just TOEIC exam prep, studying alone abroad can be an enriching life experience.