More and More Students are Choosing to Study at Colleges and Universities-IELTS Writing Task 2

More and more students are choosing to study at colleges and universities in a foreign country. Do the benefits of studying abroad outweigh the drawbacks?

Outline

Essay Type

Advantages and Disadvantages Essay

Introduction

Paraphrase the topic sentence.

Mention what the following paragraphs will be about.

Body Paragraphs

The advantages of studying abroad include international exposure, gaining more experience and having better opportunities and prospects.

The disadvantages of studying abroad include high and varying costs due to exchange rates, various language and social barriers and various problems due to being away from home for a long time.

Conclusion

Summarize the topic and state the final verdict in the end.

Sample Essay

In the past, travelling abroad and pursuing higher education was considered a rare albeit sought-after practice. Subsequently, the predilection for foreign universities has only increased over the years, and so has the tendency of students to complete their education abroad. All things considered, there are both merits and demerits to this phenomenon, and in the following paragraphs, I will elaborate on the same.

As we know, when an individual is trained, educated, and obtains his bona fides from a sophisticated and accredited institution, they naturally have better prospects than their peers. That being said, aspirants, especially those hailing from developing countries like India, Brazil, China, and others, might not have the best opportunities, leading them to seek better options in more developed countries like the UK, Germany, and the USA. Furthermore, when students become part of a different environment and culture than the one they are accustomed to, they are bound to grow and develop their social and interpersonal skills, which will go a long way in the corporate world.

However, there are quite a few shortcomings of studying abroad, and these limitations make foreign education a distant dream for many students. First and foremost, the cost of pursuing further studies and residing in an overseas country can be exorbitant. Moreover, due to fluctuating exchange rates, the expenses vary from time to time, making budgeting difficult. Subsequently, there are other drawbacks like language barriers in non-English speaking nations, racism, and social blocks where an individual might not be comfortable with the host country’s cultural values and norms.

Finally, I would like to conclude by saying that there are both positives and negatives to foreign studies, and it is upon the student to focus on either of the two. In my opinion, the potential value of studying abroad makes the limitations situational and trivial.

Vocabulary

• Sought-after

Meaning: much in demand
Eg: Bitcoin is a sought-after investment.

• Predilection

Meaning: a preference or special liking for something
Eg: My predilection for junk food is unhealthy.

• Phenomenon

Meaning: a fact or situation that is observed to exist or happen
Eg: The melting of glaciers is a serious phenomenon.

• Bona fides

Meaning: credentials, testimonials
Eg: The HR department went through the candidate’s bona fides thoroughly.

• Hailing

Meaning: have origins in
Eg: Hailing from Kolkata, Anupam has become a music icon.

• Go a long way

Meaning: be successful in something
Eg: All parents hope their children will go a long way in life.

• Exorbitant

Meaning: extremely or unreasonably high
Eg: The prices at this cafe are exorbitant.

• Blocks

Meaning: obstacles or barriers
Eg: We have to overcome our mental blocks about sensitive issues.

• Situational

Meaning: relating to the location and surroundings of a place
Eg: The situational circumstances are not ideal.

• Trivial

Meaning: minor, insignificant
Eg: The matter was so trivial that it was resolved in no time.

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