Want to do an exchange program to improve your English, but haven’t chosen your study destination yet? Know that practicing English in Queenstown is the best choice for you. That’s because, in addition to learning faster, when you study in a language’s country of origin, you have a variety of advantages at your disposal.
For a long time, most students who wanted to learn or improve their English chosen to study in Canada or the United States. However, other countries, such as New Zealand, have drawn the attention of many tourists and, especially, international students, as it has become one of the most appropriate places to live and study.
For that reason, we’ve put together this article to better explain why you choose to study English in Queenstown, New Zealand. Follow the reading to find out more!
Learn a little about New Zealand
Overall, New Zealand has been one of the most desirable places for tourists, immigrants and students from all over the world. For Brazilian students, the country occupies the 4th position in the ranking of favorite destinations. This position becomes deserved because New Zealand education is considered one of the most complete, so that eight New Zealand universities are among the 450 best universities in the world.
In addition, New Zealand has a teaching program which allows the international student to work without affecting the quality of their studies. The advantage of this is that the student can reconcile academic and social life while living in a country known for its cultural diversity and its exuberant beauty.
New Zealand’s education system has become internationally recognized and for that reason it welcomes students from all over the world. After all, the country offers English, undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Remembering that there is another positive factor that makes this place even more attractive to foreigners: the possibility of immigration through studies, since qualified labor is a highly valued feature there.
Discover the city of Queenstown
Given the strengths that New Zealand has to offer, it’s not surprising that Queenstown is a great choice to study. Located on the South Island, a two-hour flight from Auckland, the city is surrounded by mountains and sits on the shores of a crystal-clear lake, the Wakatipu.
With just over 20,000 inhabitants, Queenstown attracts tourists from all over the world, so much so that, in peak seasons, the city’s population doubles. All this thanks to its unique and enchanting beauty, which even became the setting for the recordings of the trilogy “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit”. In addition, the city is known for its tranquility and its unique architecture.
Another very specific feature of Queenstown is the appreciation of extreme sports, as the city is surrounded by mountains and lakes. It is a perfect combination for the practice of different types of activities, thus offering fun and adventure for all ages.
In winter, Queenstown is a meeting point for skiers and snowboarders who take advantage of the snowy mountains to practice their activities. As for the rest of the year, boat trips (such as Jet Boats, a speedboat that performs radical maneuvers) and activities such as bungee jumping, rafting and hang gliding are highlighted.
It is noteworthy that, for ski lovers, Queenstown becomes an even better place, as it is located close to several ski resorts with slopes for all levels of practitioners. After all, the mountains surrounding the city are part of the Southern Alps.
In addition to the reasons we’ve already mentioned, there are others that convince anyone that New Zealand is the best place to study and, who knows, take up residence. If you’re still not convinced of this, check out 5 reasons to study English in Queenstown below.
1. Government-guaranteed quality education
The New Zealand government values the quality of teaching in its institutions, both public and private. For this reason, it seeks to ensure that educational institutions maintain a high standard of teaching, in addition to having internationally recognized certificates.
The organization responsible for monitoring, registering and accrediting public and private educational institutions across the country is the NZQA – New Zealand Qualifications Authority.
2. Support for international students
In addition to ensuring quality education for New Zealand students, New Zealand also strives to provide the best assistance for international students. Therefore, a code was developed, the New Zealand Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students.
This code ensures that international students are well informed and properly treated once they settle in the country. Therefore, all educational institutions that receive these students must comply with the code, in order to provide more security, well-being, support and transparency to international students.
3. Class schedule similar to the Brazilian one
One of the advantages of choosing New Zealand to study is that the academic calendar is very similar to ours. In other words, the academic year is divided into two semesters, starting in February and ending in July, allowing international students to combine their studies between the two countries.
4. Permission to work during the exchange
For those who want or need to have a source of income while studying, the country gives this little help. In addition to granting foreigners who study English full-time the right to work up to 20 hours a week during classes, during vacations, they can provide full-time services.
5. Currency and cost of living
Among English-speaking countries, the New Zealand dollar is one of the lowest cost currencies. For this reason, the cost of living in New Zealand is also made more economical, allowing the country to have a cost-effective advantage. Therefore, studying in Queenstown is easier than you think.
Despite all the support the country offers to foreign students who intend to study English in Queenstown, it is important that you have the support of a company that specializes in exchanges. Thus, you can count on help throughout the process of preparing, staying and completing the exchange in this very complete city.