Studying abroad

Intermediate level
Task 1: Warm-up
Look at the pictures. Do you know where these universities are located?
Match the pictures with the names.

A B

1. Harvard University
2. University of Oxford
C
3. Stanford University

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©

Pictures taken from unsplash.com
 Task 2: Quiz
Let’s take a quiz and find out whether you should study abroad or not.

Do you agree with the results? Why? Why not?

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©
Pictures taken from freepik.com
Task 3: Discussion
Discuss the questions in pairs.
1. Would you like to study abroad? Why? Why
not?
2. If you had a chance to study in any country in
the world, which country would you choose?
Why?
3. What challenges do you think you might face
if you study abroad?
4. What are the most important things to take
into consideration before the trip?

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©

Pictures taken from unsplash.com
 Task 4: Brainstorming
Brainstorm the advantages of studying abroad and explain your choices.

Studying
abroad

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©

Pictures taken from pinterest.com
Task 5: Watching the video
A) Watch the video and match the speakers with what they said.
1. The independence you gain from doing an exchange you can’t really get it in any other way.
2. I want to speak the language, to expand my language skills.
3. Employers love it. If you have studied internationally, it looks great.
4. I have become a lot more culturally aware of what’s going on in the world.
5. I have always wanted to come to America to see the movies, to see the college lifestyle.

A B C D E

B) Which of the mentioned things do you agree/disagree with? Why?

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©
Screenshots taken from the video
 Task 6: Watching the video
a) What do you think are the main difficulties students may face while
studying abroad?
b) Watch the video (till 02:26) and tick the things mentioned in it.
❏ Feeling homesick ❏ The accent
❏ The phrases they use ❏ The way of life
❏ Teachers at University ❏ Feeling like an outsider
❏ Money ❏ New people, new university, new
❏ Public transport surroundings
❏ Food

c) What would you suggest them doing to overcome these difficulties?

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©
Task 7: Watching the video
Watch the second part of the video (till 03:45). How did these
students deal with the problems? How do they feel now? Compare
with your ideas from the previous step.

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©

Pictures taken from freepik.com
 Task 8: New Vocabulary
Match the words with the definitions.
1. daunting A. To become more familiar with a new situation.
2. to feel homesick B. To come up with a solution.
3. to crave C. To create social or emotional ties.
4. overwhelmed D. Completely submerged by your thoughts and emotions
5. to work out about all of life's current problems.
6. to bond E. to feel unhappy because of being away from home for a
7. to adjust to long period.
F. To have a very strong feeling of wanting something.
G. Making you feel slightly frightened or worried about your
ability to achieve something.
Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©
Task 9: Vocabulary practice
Finish the sentences with your own ideas.
1. I usually feel overwhelmed when …
2. In order to adjust to a new culture easily …
3. One of the most challenging things to work out is…
4. If you do not want to feel homesick when studying abroad …
5. I am sure that it might be really daunting to …
6. Bonding with your flatmates may help you …
7. The only thing that she craves ...

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©

Pictures taken from freepik.com
 Task 10: Freer speaking
Look through the information about the Best universities in the world.
Choose a university you would like to study at and follow the plan.
Words to use: daunting, to feel homesick, to crave, overwhelmed, to work out, to
bond, to adjust to.

1. Which university would you like to study at? Why?

2. What are the main benefits of this university?
3. What do you know about the traditions and lifestyle in this country?
4. What can be done and what can't be done in this country?
5. Why do you think this country is a comfortable place for you to study?
6. What difficulties you may face while studying in this country?
Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©
 Keys:
Task 1 Task 7
Keys: They spoke to the welfare advisors who reassured them they weren’t the only ones
A - 2 - in the UK who felt overwhelmed. One of the students decorated her room to make it feel a
B - 3- in the USA little bit homely. The other student badminton societies and met lots of English
C - 1 - in the USA people there. Thus her English got improved. One of the boys started talking to
people a lot and felt more confident in himself and his language. And they ended
Task 5 up making many friends both international and local.
1-B Now they feel like this is home for them.
2-E
3-D Task 8
4-C 1 -G
5-A 2-E
3-F
Task 6 4-D
❏ Feeling homesick. 5-B
6-C
❏ The phrases they use.
7-A
❏ The accent.
❏ The way of life.
❏ New people, new university, new surroundings.
❏ Public transport.
❏ Food.

Created by Veronika Avetisyan for Skyteach, 2021©