If you’re looking for somewhere in Europe to study English where the people are friendly and not as ‘cold’ as people in the UK, why not head to Ireland? Low-cost flights to Dublin from all over Europe have made it a popular holiday destination and it’s a great place to study English, too.
There are lots of great English schools in Dublin and summer courses are particularly popular there. People often say that it rains a lot in Ireland but the weather in summer is really beautiful.
To take your education to the next level, Trinity College, Dublin is a very highly-regarded university and many international students go there from all over the world.
Irish pubs are famous all over the world and they’re a great place to practise English. People tend to be more talkative and friendly in pubs in Ireland than over in the UK so going out for a drink there could be a great way to practise English and make some new friends.
One of the other interesting things about Ireland is that traditional culture is still very strong and there are many pubs where you can hear people playing traditional songs. Listening to these songs is a great way to put the language into a cultural context.
Dublin can be a very expensive city because it is so popular with tourists. If you are studying English there and want to save some money, you could try looking for a hostel or staying with a host family in a homestay scheme.
Remember, Dublin is in the Republic of Ireland, which is not part of the UK. You will need to pay for things in Euros when you get there. If you choose to take a trip to anywhere in Northern Ireland, (Belfast, for example) you will need to change some money into Pounds Sterling because Northern Ireland is part of the UK.
If you have any free time on your trip to Dublin you could visit Dublin Castle, Temple Bar, and Trinity College. One of the most famous things to see, though, is the Guinness Storehouse. It’s a museum dedicated to Guinness which shows the history of the drink and how it was exported all over the world. Visitors enter at the bottom of the museum and when they get to the top, they can have a free pint of Guinness in a bar with fantastic views right across the city.
If you’re a social person, keen to practise English by talking to as many people as possible, Dublin could be the ideal city for you! Although the cost of living there can be high, cheap flights to Dublin from all over Europe make it a very attractive destination for English learners.
Today’s image is by Sarah Mooney.