It’s decided. This year you’re fully determined to spend your summer away from home and invest your time in an English course somewhere across the sea. But where can you go? The US are way too expensive, Australia is full of spiders, in New Zealand they speak funny and London would cost you as much as staying three months on the Fiji living off caviar and champagne.
Oh yes, there’s only one missing. Ireland. This green, lucky island is the perfect compromise for quality of life, cost of living and fun. If you’re looking for a place to improve your English but also enjoy your stay and have a great experience, Ireland is your best choice. And if you read on you’ll learn why.
Top Things To Do In Dublin
Ireland was nominated as Europe’s Leading Destination in the 2017 World Travel Awards. Its breathtaking cliffs, emerald green hills and sinuous coastlines make it a superb destination for nature lovers and intrepid adventurers. However, it’s quite obvious that you cannot learn English strolling on a cliff in the company of a flock of sheep chewing grass. The Cliffs of Moher and Donegal will be your scenic tours for the weekend, but it’s better if you return to civilization for the rest of the week. Luckily, we have the the peerless solution for you.
Dublin is a vibrant, multicultural city that can offer a great deal of things to see and to do. It has grown exponentially over the past ten years to become the new European Silicon Valley, attracting big names such as Dropbox, Intel and Dell and swarming with students and professionals from all over the world. Strolling down Grand Canal Dock, you’ll see Facebook’s thumb up, Google’s offices and TripAdvisor’s colorful owl.
Not far for the business and financial centre, you have the old town, the heart of Dublin. Tiny medieval alleys paved in cobbles and populated by the quirkiest individuals coming back and forth from the numberless pubs and bars packed next to one another. This is Temple Bar, a busy riverside neighborhood, which is probably the most famous place in Dublin. At night, the medieval street exterior leaves place to the music of live bands and to a swarming crowd of students, tourists and beer lovers. If you’re looking for some serious nightlife craziness, this is the unrivaled spot. The only problem will be to keep up the drinking with the Irish and still be able to walk afterwards.
Despite its prodigious growth, the Irish capital still keeps its natural side intact. Parks and gardens extend from the heart of Dublin to the surrounding areas, embracing the city with their green arms and knobby legs. Taking a walk in Phoenix Park or the Botanical Gardens will soothe your mood and relieve your stress.
However, we said you’re coming to Ireland also to study English, isn’t it? Let’s stop drinking Guinness for a moment and think of which are the best English language schools in Dublin.
Tips To Pick The Best English School In Dublin
Now, the question is: do you want a cheap English course or a high quality one? The best value for money, you’ll think. You have tens of options, with a wide range of prices and teaching standards. How do you spot the best value English language summer school?
First of all, check if a school is on the ILEP (Interim List of Eligible Programmes), the list of approved English schools in Ireland ensuring a minimum quality standard.
Then, read the reviews. The opinion of other students who actually attended a course is invaluable information for you. Pay attention to what they say about the size of the classes, the social programme offered by the school, the teaching materials, the availability of the staff, the outdoors activities etc. From past students’ experiences you should be able to get a clear idea of whether a course is worth your money or not.
Finally, the location. It doesn’t really matter where your school is located, as long as it is easily reachable by public transportation. And here the accommodation comes into play. Read the next paragraph a learn something more on how to find a student living for summer.
Student Summer Accommodation In Dublin
If you haven’t found out yet, you’ll soon discover that finding a rental accommodation in Dublin is like trying to fill green peas with stuffing. Long and painful.
Unless you act way in advance, forget a student room at walking distance from your school. Opt for a well-connected student housing, instead. Public transports work pretty well in Dublin. They’re reliable and usually on time. You won’t need to wake up at cockcrow to go to class. You’ll never hear it unless you’re coming back from a rough night of drinking at 6 in the morning. In that case, you should know that it’s not a rooster but another drunk guy.
If you’re on a budget, you should also consider living outside the city centre. There are some nice areas with lots of amenities even in the city outskirts. You might want to have a look at Hazelwood Student Village, in Santry. It’s the cheapest student accommodation in Dublin, situated at walking distance from Dublin City University, Lidl, McDonald, Insomnia Coffee, Subway and Ben Dunne Gym.
The apartments are composed by four bedrooms with en suite bathroom, a living room and a shared kitchen. It’s a great opportunity to meet with other international students and keep speaking English even after class!
So, are you ready to spend an exciting summer in Dublin? Pack up your things and come to experience the luck of the Irish! Just don’t forget to bring the umbrella...