Should You Take an English Course at an English School in Auckland or outside Auckland?

You may be attending an English school in Auckland city. Studying in a large city may seem appealing, but there are several things you must consider. The location of your English language school will have a big impact on the progress of your English education.

1) Will You Be Using Your English Every Day?

Auckland is a multicultural city, and while taking an English course, it can become all too easy to meet people from your home country and end up socializing with them on a daily basis. This is by far the worst outcome when you are trying to develop your English, especially if you are studying for your IELTS in Auckland. All too often, an international language student returns home from New Zealand with very limited English, simply due to not having obtained enough practice.

On the otherhand, Evakona Education is an English language school that is located on the the Coromandel Peninsula. There are most likely very few people speaking the language of your home country. Students here end up using their English daily, which can result in rapid improvement. At the same time, at Evakona Education we have a “English only” policy to ensure English is the language used while in class.

2) What is the Quality of English Taught?

An English language school being situated in Auckland may mean that a lower quality of education is provided. It can be a common problem when studying at an English school in Auckland where there is 1 teacher to 30 students in a classroom. In such an environment, the quality of English that is taught can suffer dramatically. This can make studying for IELTS in Auckland a big challenge.

At Evakona, we strictly maintain a maximum of 10 students per class, and this allows for a much more focused learning experience. This means that our students learn English faster, and this can result in higher IELTS and TOEIC scores.

3) Are You Getting the Real Kiwi Experience?

Taking an English course in Auckland may be a good idea. But if you want the real Kiwi experience, there is nothing better than spending time outside of Auckland. Be sure to experience New Zealand’s beautiful scenery, friendly people, and enjoy any number of amazing outdoor activities. Evakona Education is located on the Coromandel Peninsula which allows you to enjoy the true culture of New Zealand.

The Coromandel Peninsula is world famous for its beautiful natural landmarks like the Cathedral Cove, Hot Water Beach, and The Pinnacles. There are also abundant outdoor activities like snorkeling, surfing, hiking, horse riding and kayaking. All of which may be an eye-opening opportunity compared to what is available in your home town.

Living the busy lifestyle of a major city, you may find that people from Auckland tend to be more stressed and potentially even unfriendly or impersonal. On the other-hand, many students at Evakona have commented on the friendliness of people living in towns like Whitianga and Thames on the Coromandel Peninsula. People tend to be very relaxed here. Students are often amazed that a person will say “hello” to you as you walk down the street, even when they don’t know you. A person may even help you, even if you haven’t asked for it.

4) Will You Get Adaquate Homestay Accommodation?

Staying with a homestay family is one of the best ways to drastically improve your English ability. Living with a Kiwi family and using your English on a day to day basis is highly recommended.

At Evakona, our homestay families are carefully chosen with attention to detail. Living in the relaxed, friendly environment of the Coromandel Peninsula, our homestay family will provide you a with a welcoming atmosphere where you become part of the family.

The problem with staying in homestay accommodation in Auckland is that the same level of care and attention may not be available. For a start, there may not be a suitable homestay family that is close to your chosen English school in Auckland. You may end up needing to travel 45 minutes or 1 hour every morning simply to get to class. You may end up being 1 of 3 students staying at the same homestay accommodation, or the homestay family may be foreign and have difficulty with English themselves.