Study
programmes abroad, an agent´s view
I´ve
spent the last few months earning my living by arranging study
programmes for students who want to spend time living with a family
in another country. For many teenagers, a study programme is their
first opportunity to go abroad on their own - they want to see what
life is like not only with a different family, but also in a
completely different school system.
There´s
no doubt that most young people enjoy travelling, but not everyone
has the confidence to leave family home. However, it was the value
experience of my own children spending a school term abroad that
first attracted me to being an educational agent.
Most
students realize that they may have problems fitting into a new
lifestyle, but the major issue is being able to communicate in a
foreign language. On holiday, it´s all part of the fun when you´re
only deciding what flavour of ice cream to order or whether to spend
the whole day in an adventure park. But what about when you´ve got
homework to do?
I´ve
already realized that there´s a definite pattern to a study
programme. The preparation, emails and phone calls to the "new"
family all add to the adventure. On arrival, the new house or
apartment looks fantastic, and during the first couple of days at
school, everybody takes an interest in the new class member. And then
gradually the excitement begins to wear off - there´s a sense of
loneliness and phone calls may increase. But negative feelings don´t
last and life slowly become easier - parents are no longer missed,
friendship develop and suddenly the term has ended!
QUESTIONS:
21.What
is the writer trying to do in the text?
A.Describe
how he sets up a study programme.
B.Warn
how hard is it to find study programmes.
C.Suggest
ways that people can apply to study abroad.
D.Explain
the issues which are involved in studying abroad.
22.Why
did the writer take up his present job?
A.He
enjoyed travelling when he was young.
B.His
children once studied abroad.
C.His
family encouraged him.
D.He
met an educational agent.
23.What
is the most important thing to consider before studying abroad?
A.What
the food will be like.
B.Whether
the lifestyle will be a problem.
C.How
difficult the language will be.
D.Whether
there will be time for fun activities.
24.During
their stay abroad, most students:
A.Do
not speak to their families at home.
B.Remain
an object of interest to others.
C.Experience
the same kind of emotions.
D.Feel
unhappy all the time.
25.What
might the writer say about his job?
A.I
haven´t been doing this job for very long but I´m finding it really
interesting.
B.This
job means that I rarely get much free time with my own family as I´m
so busy.
C.It´s
part of my job to visit young people when they attend a new school in
another country.
D.It´s
a difficult job as parents worry that their children will not be able
to manage.
