After going through several years during which the idea of going abroad to study was hampered by the global health situation, we see that, for the past two years, demand has been increasing. Faced with this situation, very often at the initiative of the children themselves, the question that many families ask themselves is the following: “Can I afford to send my child to study in a school or high school abroad? foreigner for a school year or is this something only the elite can afford? ”
The answer remains unchanged: it depends on a multitude of factors, including the personal situation of each family. Making this decision requires careful analysis and a long-term perspective. Your children’s language education and financial choices are similar: where to invest?
This article explores the economics of learning languages, particularly English, for their future careers and personal growth.
1. Compare tuition fees
As previously mentioned, an introductory method of comparing costs consists of examining the following aspects: the disparity between the annual tuition fees in the establishment attended by your child in France and the equivalent cost for one Studying English in France or abroad school year at the stranger. Also taking into account food expenses, both at school and at home, as well as utilities (such as electricity, water, internet, gasoline, etc.), it is found that for students attending an international private school, net annual fees are higher. Costs can vary from a few thousand euros per year to several tens of thousands of euros per year, or even more,, including all current expenses.
When it comes to schools receiving government subsidies, there is a negative disparity in terms of costs compared to another country, with a difference of around 4,000 euros per year. In this situation, given that we are referring to public schools, it is also essential to take into consideration the following: if the student studies English outside of school, it is relevant to evaluate the associated additional costs to this approach, as well as the time necessary to reach a level of English similar to that which he could acquire by studying and residing for a year in an English-speaking country.
2. Invest in extracurricular English or in a school year abroad?
The results of EF’s annual ranking of English language proficiency by country, based on the average of the scores obtained by all students who took the EF SET online English test, provide very relevant information . Indeed, France currently displays an average level of competence within Europe. This situation encourages families who want to provide their children with a high level of English to consider language courses outside of school, such as extracurricular courses or academic training.
This financial factor therefore constitutes an additional variable to take into consideration, especially if we compare the overall cost of extracurricular English courses over several years with the price of a year of study abroad. The data speaks for itself: opting for a school year abroad presents a lower cost of around 6,000 euros compared to what could be incurred by investing over the entire duration of schooling in an English academy to achieve a bilingual level. It also doesn’t mention potential time savings to focus on school subjects, other languages, or learning new skills.
3. Evaluate the cost of life experience
We understand that price plays a crucial role when it comes to making a decision as significant as sending your teenager to live and study in another country for a year. However, we would like to emphasize the importance of not neglecting the opportunity that this experience represents. As some parents who have already participated in an exchange testify: “ They come back with a wealth of experiences different from those they could have had here .”
In short, they acquire a better understanding of themselves and develop their self-discipline, gain maturity, find a second family and establish an international network for life