The best way for some.
Others even doubt about the need for knowledge of languages.

The need to learn foreign languages has recently be underlined and contradicted by a number of mixed signals in different countries.

In Sweden, Språkresor are still popular, but fewer students go abroad for a longer period of time, as can be deducted from the CSN statistics (a government program to grant cheap student loans to go study abroad for 13 or 16 weeks). The Swedish have a reputation for being fluent in foreign languages, but this reputation might now be challenged. The fact that high-school students no longer need to take the same amount of foreign language classes as in the past, is seen as one of the mayor causes for this decline in CSN grants allocated.

In another European country, Spain, the situation is different; everybody in Spain has been STUDYING English for years, but hardly anybody SPEAKS it. Ok, possibly this is being influenced by the feeling of embarrassment, common for Spaniards when having to speak a foreign language. The former prime minister (José Maria Aznar) really ONLY became fluent in English once he was the EX-prime minister. The present prime minister –José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero- can just speak about the weather in English, when conversation in English is required.

Still, The Spanish Ministry of Education has created a scholarship fund for students to learn English, French and German abroad. There are 3.350 grants of 1.600 euros available for this coming summer.
Source: MEC

As a funny side remark; the following search frequency on the internet illustrates the importance of such cultural differences:

Study English: 1981
Learn English: 2576300
Estudiar Inglés: 445
Aprender Inglés: 2856
Curso de Inglés: 29323
On the corporate side, there seems to be a great optimism as to the prospective of in-country language learning. This is nicely illustrated by some very recent examples of corporate movements:

EC English has bought a school, in Cape Town, the oldest city in South Africa

The OISE chain has recently bought a number of individual language schools, as well as chains and is planning to go public.

carpe diem Sprachreisen, a German language travel agency – Sprachreisen in German – has been bought last 29th of September by mayor league Holidaybreak plc (a tour operator UK based holding)

An even bigger fish Study Group (a whole chain of language schools, private high schools and university preparation programs) has been sold less then a month ago to CHAMP Private Equity (Australian company).

Students will typically be looking for Italian language schools in Florence or for a Spanish language schools in Salamanca or for a way to learn English in New York or an intensive English course in Cork (Ireland). There are so many language schools to choose from, that each have their international audience, their intensive programs, their activities and excursions, with a variety of accommodation options that students can choose from.

Once one understands and accepts that “the illiterate of the future will only speak ONE language”, the in-country way of learning a language does present itself as the best option. Everybody comes alone and thus has time and interest to get to know their fellow students. These 4 or 6 hours of language classes a day as their only common interest to start with . It still IS the safest way for a girl (woman) to travel on her own and last but not least; one does learn much faster and the learning process is so much more enjoyable.

A mature industry now, language travel is here to stay.

“Borsa di studio”:
SCUOLA LEONARDO DA VINCI awards 40 school or university students scholarships (”Borse di Studio”) entitling them to a 100 percent reduction in the cost of a four-week standard course, not including accommodation. If you wish to apply for one of our scholarships, you are requested to submit an application and registration form to the closest Italian Embassy, Consulate or Culture Institute, enclosing a reference from your Italian teacher, and stating the precise name and address of your school/university, and of the teacher concerned.

“Assegno di studio”:

SCUOLA LEONARDO DA VINCI awards 40 school or university Study Discounts (”Assegno di Studio”) entitling them to a partial reduction in the cost of a two-week or a four-week standard course, not including accommodation. If you wish to apply for one of our Study Discounts, you are requested to submit an application and registration form directly to Scuola Leonardo da Vinci through the Italian Department of your University, enclosing a reference from your Italian teacher, and stating the precise name and address of your school/university, and of the teacher concerned.

ITALIAN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS SCHOLARSHIP

You can apply for a scholarship granted by the Italian government: Every year the Ministry of Foreign Affairs grants foreign citizens, as well as Italian citizens permanently residing abroad, scholarships for Italian language and culture courses.

Information on deadlines to apply for scholarships as well as regulations and application forms can be obtained from the Italian diplomatic or consular missions in the candidate’s country of origin. Ask for scholarship at SCUOLA LEONARDO DA VINCI. Applications must then be presented to the same diplomatic/consular mission. You can find the email addresses of all Italian missions abroad at the Web site of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Enrolment is carried out by the scholarship holder after having received the scholarship.

Please note that the final decision will depend directly by the Minister of Foreign Affairs. We, or the Italian Consulate/Embassy, are not involved in the decision.

STUDY GRANTS for Swedish students – CSN Loans Italy

Swedish students can apply for Study Grants for our schools in Florence, Rome and Siena, since they are recognized by CSN Lund – Sweden (Swedish National Board of Student Aid): Swedish students can study with State funded loans.

STUDY GRANTS for Norway students- Lanekassen Loans Italy

Norway students can apply for “Lanekassen” Loans for our schools in Florence, Milan, Rome and Siena. We offer language course (min. 13 weeks of stay – extendable) and special preparation for CILS or CELI exams at a special price.

GERMANY: BILDUNGSURLAUB

Germans can apply for our Bildungsurlaub recognized courses. Our schools are recognized from the following German Federal States regarding the “Bildungsurlaub”:

• Brandenburg;

• Berlin;

• Hamburg;

• Hessen;

• Niedersachsen;

• Mecklenburg-Vorpommern;

• Rheinland-Pfalz;

• Sachsen-Anhalt;

• Schleswig-Holstein.