Study Abroad in France

Choosing what school to go to in college is not even a mile close to choosing between apple and orange. College education is certainly an investment and a decision that can change the life of an individual. The real life outside the academe requires extensive training, maturity, and remarkable skills – things an individual should be getting from the time he steps in the campus. This makes choosing the right school crucial.

France is known to be a “knowledge” economy – a country that invests significant portion of its budget in education, research, and extension. In fact, more than 20% of the country’s national budget is allotted to education, and this makes way for an education system that has the integrity and quality recognized worldwide. Yes, the French are serious about studying and schooling. In fact, 98% of French kids, as young as three years of age, are sent to maternelle or kindergarten classes. Among European countries, French kids spend the most number of hours per year in school.

The best thing about it is that this quality education is open not just to French but to the rest of the world. Yes, France is one of the top three countries (along with United States and United Kingdom) that host the most number of international students. This is no wonder given the wide array of top-notch disciplines (i.e., more than 35,000 post-secondary programs) and more than 6,000 learning institutions (both public and private) to choose from. More importantly, the French education is impartial between French and international students when it comes to admission requirements, tuition fees, and quality of education.

Despite the elite standing in educational system, France also offers low-cost education in its public institutions. Students get to avail special assistance, such as discounts in museums, sports events, and cultural events. They can also take advantage of low-cost restaurants and rentals (i.e., transportation and accommodation). Low-cost residences inside the campus are offered, with priority given to international or exchange students. All students below 28 years of age and are taking programs not shorter than a 4-month term are enrolled in student social security plan, where social security covers 70% of illness-related expenses incurred by the student. For students with excellent scholastic standing, there are lots of scholarship grants to apply for. They may even work part-time while enrolled in a degree program, provided they will keep the good academic standing.

Students work so hard not to enjoy themselves. France is the best place to balance between study and leisure. France is surely a window to view Europe - with nine other countries bordering it. What about its proximity to world famous cities, such as Amsterdam, Milan, Berlin, Barcelona, and London? It is definitely a plus!

France is undoubtedly rich in cultural heritage, and awareness of the European perspective is even included in the degree programs of most of the learning institutions in the country. What about being able to speak in French – a language spoken by more than 200 million people in approximately 50 counties? This is definitely an added feather an individual can have, and this can be best learned in France.

Truly, France has the right to boast itself not only for its wines and cheeses, gourmet food, and world famous designer labels - but also for its educational system. Graduates are definitely up to a good start. Not everybody is given the gift to have a French education – one thing that is worth investing, experiencing, and embracing. If you have what it takes, won’t you grab what others can only dream about?

Study Abroad in Berlin

An urban landscape rich in history and replete in modern constructs, Berlin is one of the great cities in the world that stood the test of time. From the Nazi occupation to the reunification of the country, Berlin has flourished into a vibrant setting worth exploring, especially for students who want to acquire world-class and dynamic education.

As the capital city of Germany with a population of 3.4 million, Berlin is a melting pot of different cultures and people and a convergence point of the old and the new. It is home to world-renowned universities and research institutions, thus making it one of the most progressive centers of education in the entire European Union.

Berlin is home to four topnotch universities that offer thousands of students an extensive roster of disciplines. Every year, approximately 110, 000 students crowd the halls of these hotspots of learning. The Free University of Berlin, the largest of the four universities, focuses on social sciences and humanities and on health and natural sciences and is one of the most highly regarded universities in Europe. Berlin’s oldest university, the Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, caters to 35,000 students annually and it primarily specializes on philosophy, mathematics and the natural sciences. One of the most notable individuals who graced this university was Albert Einstein. The other two universities found in Berlin are the Technische Universität Berlin and the Universität der Künste.

But of course, the old adage that experience is the best teacher also holds true in Berlin with its countless options for the arts, culture, leisure and recreation.

Those who want to major in the arts will find Berlin a big arena of learning. The city boasts of a 153 museums which reflect the rich heritage of its existence. One of the most popular is the ensemble on the Museum that was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Other notable museums include the Jewish Museum and the Beate Uhse Erotic Museum, which is regarded as the world’s largest and most comprehensive erotic museum.

For zoology students, a trip to the Zoologischer Garten Berlin – the most visited zoo in Europe and holds the most number of species in the world among any other zoos in the world – is like browsing through volumes of encyclopedias, the only difference is that the animals are alive and not just printed photographs.

Who has not heard of the Berlin Film Festival? Held every February and attended by more than 430,000 movie aficionados, the Berlin Film Festival is the largest publicly attended film festival in the planet.

Finally, for the free spirits and fun-loving learners who want to relax via clean uninhibited fun, Berlin will not disappoint. The city is brimming with an exciting nightlife with numerous dance clubs welcoming stressed out students craving to break away from the pressures of studying. Life is indeed a party in Berlin with its nightlife pulsating with music from techno to punk and with endless choices to discover, all you have to do is pick one.

From its world-class universities, its historical walls, its well-preserved culture to its vibrant nightlife, Berlin is a seat of education like no other. Students can immerse themselves in the ways of the metropolis and learn from the smallest to the grandest of things. Indeed, Berlin is a place where one can realize the value of education and life as a whole.

Spanish Language School

To get a head start in learning the Spanish language in Spain, one must first find the right and comfortable environment where adaptation will set in. There are a variety of Spanish language schools in Spain that will surely adapt to your learning style and progress. It could be a school in the big city, or a relaxed ambience of the countryside, or perhaps maybe a small town where everyone is familiar and friendly. Wherever the location, a comfortable place is sure to help in hastening you conversational Spanish. To get you started, here are a few Spanish language schools that have different atmospheres to cater to your learning pleasure.

Hispalense Spanish language school, located in Tarifa, southern of Spain was one of the very first language schools in the province of Cádiz when it first opened in 1989. It is most preferred by students who enjoy a laid- back environment by the ocean in a small town, since the beach is only a two-minute walk. They have a standard Spanish course in four course levels (A1,A2,B1,and B2). The intensive Spanish course is almost the same as the standard one, except that it has an additional five private lessons per week. They also have a DELE (diploma of Spanish as a foreign language) preparation course that has three course levels (intermediate, advance I and advance II).They also offer a spanish brush- up course for advanced students to refresh their Spanish. The standard price range is from 165 euros to 4000 euros depending on your weeks of study.

Aula sin Fronteras. Spanish School, located in Almansa, Spain is a small town where the Spanish language was born. What better place to study Spanish than in this La Mancha area on the Castillian plain? The town is a very splendid, a safe place to live in, with all the services and facilities that you may need, even though it is quite small (with about 30,000 inhabitants). You will very seldom meet foreign visitors and so there is no other way to communicate than to speak in Spanish, which will certainly boost your learning progress and even your conversational accent. The courses are divided into four levels (beginning, elementary, intermediate and advanced) and students who enter at an intermediate or advanced level are given a short placement test on the first day of class. The students per level are very small I number, ranging from only one to four students. They offer online classes, family classes’ and one to one private class. The prices range from 250 euros to 1000 euros depending on how long you will be studying.

Carpe Diem Spanish language school is located in the busy, cultural, commercial and social Calle Fuencarral, a street in the center of Madrid, Spain. It is awake at all hours of the day and night, due to the number of shops, cinemas, and theatres and because it is the meeting points of the three most interesting neighborhoods for "night life": Bilbao, Chueca and Malasaña. It is also near the museums, parks and other places of interests for the visitors. The hype of the city will surely help you to use your Spanish during parties, social events or even just during shopping and dining. They offer nine levels of learning (Beginner, Elementary, Intermediate I, Intermediate II, Advanced I, Advanced, Perfection/native Spanish level, D.E.L.E. Básico, D.E.L.E. Superior). Your course options are Intensive course, semi- intensive course, two days per week, evening course and one to one course. The price is 125 euros per week but again, it dependson the course you will take and the length of your study.

Delta Language School is located in Santander, the capital of Cantabria region which is surrounded by magnificent mountain landscapes. There are more than thirty public parks, four big museums, a glorious Cathedral and many open stretches of sandy beaches, which are distinguished by the Blue Flag of the European Community owing to their pristine condition. This friendly city is situated in a privileged natural environment. The city has amazing and relaxed surroundings, with mild weather all year round. As a coastal city, Santander enjoys warm winters and very pleasant summers. If you are looking for the luxuries of life during your study days, then this is your place. The school was founded in 1980 and is a well established school, open all year round. It is a fully accredited school with the reputation of providing a blend of high-level language instruction and a friendly atmosphere. They offer a standard course, extra cultural course, intensive course, Spanish for special subjects (business, tourism, etc.), course for mature people, D.E.L.E. preparation course, and a private course. The price range for this school is 242 euros for standard classes and 460 euros for intensive courses. The price would of course, depend on the length of your study. So get started by finding the right Spanish language schools and enjoy the benefits of speaking this well- renowned language fluently.

Great Opportunities in Studying Abroad

Going abroad does not only provide greener pasture for work opportunities. As a matter of fact, you can likewise achieve great academic privileges outside the country considering the long list of universities that awaits you. What is even more exciting is that you can optimize your options with the ever expanding selection of host countries from the East to the West. To convince you more about this opportunity, here are some of the exciting advantages.

Broadening Your Horizons

Studying abroad is an effective medium to open yourself to new possibilities. Staying in a different country involves delving into the prevalent culture apart from the school community. This includes discovering new set of values, beliefs, and ceremonies. As a newcomer, you are expected to adapt into the existing way of life so as not to be regarded as a complete stranger. The immersion process can be tough but you can certainly get acquainted with the new ambiance given sufficient time to adjust. Besides, the experience pays off with new pieces of learning.

Coping With Educational System

Coping with new educational framework is another consequence of studying abroad. Take it as an advantage though; it can be a chance to prove your academic competency. Take note that nothing could ever put down an intellectual person. Given intense perseverance, you can emerge as a wiser individual ready for another academic challenge before you. The next time you know, you are already marching to receive your diploma at last. Should you be fortunate enough, you can even earn recognition from such educational institution.

Meeting a Pool of Expert Mentors

More often than not, each country has its own pool of priced academic mentors. In fact, you can meet well-renowned academic personalities, too. Top western academies commonly take pride of its faculty members. Most of them can even be recipients of academic awards from renowned organizations. Moreover, you can expect no less than expertise which can bring out the best in you, as well. Meaning you don’t have to find your way to access their intelligent opinions for you can hear these ideas personally from them.

Encountering Career Privileges

No need to worry for studying abroad comes as a perfect investment. It is for the reason that you can reap return on investment via work privileges overseas, too. Getting a job in a foreign land comes easy to those with educational background in the same country. This way, the company can readily verify on your competence. Best thing is that you can earn double or triple times the regular pay in your home country in an equivalent position. Hence, you can even earn the cost of your education in a short term.

Learning More about Yourself

Leaving your home country likewise implies leaving your family. In turn, you should be able to stand on your own by learning the tricks to being an independent person. Facing life’s challenges alone would never be easy for great wisdom is learned out of tough circumstances. Along the process, you might even find yourself doing things you never used to do before. Undoubtedly, practical virtues such as independence cannot be found in books for this has to be encountered in real life situations. Consequently, your family is just a call or an email away whenever you need guidance for the internet is likewise a click away.

No doubt, you can anticipate holistic academic learning and training from the experience of studying abroad not to mention the career opportunities that await you.