Nowadays many people prefer to study or live in foreign countries.

While studying and living abroad

Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or
experience.

You should write at least 250 words.

Sample Answer:

Many people emigrate from their native countries nowadays. It has been a gradually increasing trend, as
plenty of perspective students as well as ordinary workers leave their homelands hoping to become
more successful. However, they usually have to separate from families and leave their places of
residence. In this essay will be discussed the advantages and disadvantages of living and studying
abroad.

To begin with, there are some considerable pros. Firstly, the youth can study in foreign universities in
order to become prosperous specialists, which is not a trivial goal to achieve in the native country. For
instance, some of the best Lithuanian pupils choose to study at University of Cambridge because it is
considered to be one of the top universities in the world in terms of the quality of education. Secondly,
adults also migrate abroad if they want to earn more money and to have better career opportunities.
For example, the minimum salary in the UK is around 1000 pounds, while in Lithuania it is 300 Euros.
Therefore, people can afford to satisfy their needs better living in wealthy foreign countries.

By contrast, there some cons too. To begin with, leaving the homeland usually means damaging
relationships with other people. In my personal experience, after my cousins left the country they have
not been socialising so much with their parents, although they have kept in touch with them.
Additionally, when a person owns a flat or a house, he should continue to pay taxes even if he leaves the
place of residence and lives abroad. Thus, noteworthy is the fact that one can miss relatives, and leaving
home can be unpleasant sometimes.

In conclusion, it can be seen that something should be sacrificed due to the seeking of a better life.
However, it is generally advantageous to take the challenge of living in a foreign country to become a
successful person, being it education or work. It is hoped that all countries in the future will be able to
provide its citizens equal opportunities to achieve their life goals.

[ by - Karolis Kusas ]
1. Các từ vựng cần biết cho chủ đề Study Abroad

greater opportunities: cơ hội tốt hơn

homeland: quê nhà

offer better facilities and course: cung cấp cơ sở vật chất và chương trình học tốt hơn

prestigious: uy tín

top experts in their fields: chuyên gia hàng đầu trong lĩnh vực của họ

expand their knowledge: mở rộng kiến thức

gain qualifications: đạt được các chứng chỉ

open the door to better job opportunities: mở cánh cửa tới các cơ hội nghề nghiệp tốt hơn

aspirational: đáng ngưỡng mộ

apply for scholarships: nộp hồ sơ xin học bổng

underprivileged students: sinh viên nghèo, không có điều kiện

diversity: sự đa dạng

invest heavily: mạnh tay đầu tư

broaden students’ horizons: mở mang tầm nhìn của sinh viên

exposed to different cultures, customs and points of view: tiếp xúc với các nền văn hoá, phong tục và
cách nhìn khác nhau

gives someone the chance to travel to different places/explore different cultures: cho ai đó cơ hội để đi
nhiều nơi khác nhau, khám phá nhiều nền văn hoá khác nhau

experience a different way of living: trải nghiệm một lối sống mới

living on your own: sống tự lập một mình

encounter culture shock: gặp phải cú sốc văn hoá

high living costs: mức sống cao

feelings of frustration, loneliness and homesickness: cảm giác thất vọng, cô đơn và nhớ nhà

learn valuable life lessons and practical life skills: học được những bài học giá trị và các kỹ năng sống
thực tế

Recruiters tend to favour candidates graduating from an international university over those who don’t
have any international qualification: Nhà tuyển dụng có xu hướng thích những ứng viên học ở nước
ngoài hơn là những người không có bằng cấp mang tính quốc tế.
2. Các idea cho bài IELTS Writing Task 2 dạng Advantage & Disadvantages

Advantages/Benefits:

Many students travel abroad to study at a prestigious university.

The best universities employ lecturers who are experts in their fields.

Qualifications gained abroad can open doors to better job opportunities.

Living in a foreign country can broaden students' horizons.

Overseas students are exposed to different cultures and customs.

They can immerse themselves in a language.

Disadvantages/Drawbacks:

Living away from home can be challenging.

Students have problems with paperwork such as visa applications.

The language barrier can cause difficulties.

Students have to find accommodation and pay bills.

Many students feel homesick and miss their families.

Some students experience culture shock.

3. Phân tích bài mẫu IELTS Writing Task 2 chủ đề Study Abroad

Many students now have the opportunity to study in other countries. Studying abroad may bring some
benefits to some students, but it also has a significant number of disadvantages.

Discuss both sides of the argument and give your own opinion.

BÀI MẪU:

An increasing number of students are deciding to study overseas and many find the option very
attractive. Whilst this is not something that every student would choose, it is, in my opinion, an
extremely attractive proposition for those who would benefit from the opportunity.

Studying overseas has many advantages for students. Firstly, it will give students the experience of other
markets, cultures and perspectives. This means that those students with overseas experience would
become more attractive to prospective employers operating in this increasingly globalised world.
Secondly, studying and living abroad will provide students with the opportunity of acquiring a second
language at a social and professional level. As a result, improving their contacts and employment
prospects. Finally, the experience of studying and living in a foreign country would ensure that students
become more independent, self-confident and self-reliant.

On the other hand, studying abroad could have some disadvantages in some circumstances. If students
had to study in a second language, it could limit their performance and their success in their chosen
subject. Furthermore, for many students, studying abroad would have no material benefit. For example
studying English in a non-English speaking country or taking some technical subjects would appear to
offer little benefit.

In conclusion, I believe that any disadvantages are heavily outweighed by the significant benefits that
can come from studying abroad for those who would choose it or find it beneficial. Not only would the
experience gained from living in other countries be desirable to future employers but also gaining
proficiency in another language can only be a benefit to their lives in general.

(265 words - Band 8.0)

Sample 2:

In recent decades, there has been an increase in the proportion of foreign settlements, raising
many safety and integration questions. Although the ideas of potential drawbacks appear to be
reasonable, I think living abroad will pay dividends.

On the one hand, there is a myriad of benefits when it comes to living abroad. First, Residing in
another nation is conducive to liberty from the rigid laws and social norms. For example,
Homosexual individuals in Russia have a propensity to move to other European countries
because Homosexual intercourse means capital punishment. Second, the Foreign residence is
invariably associated with higher opportunities of experiencing a more progressive and
standardized learning environment. This means would act as an incentive for their acquisition of
academic and empirical knowledge, promoting their career prospects with better social status.

On the other hand, there are some potential problems pertaining to working or living in a foreign
environment. First, Individuals moving abroad themselves could be highly sensitive to
homesickness and nostalgia. These psychological disorders would discourage their desire for
integration, increasing the likelihood of isolation from the locals outside. In addition,
the foreign settlement could culminate in the issues of the cultural clash due to religious beliefs.
For example, Some Islamic refugees are susceptible to racial discrimination and even physical
battery due to the prejudice that Islamism is the cause of terrorism.
In conclusion, despite the ideas of safety and assimilation difficulties, the foreign
residence would offer a better living standard in terms of liberty and education prospects.