What questions should I ask before going abroad?

When faced with a decision of where to study abroad, students and their parents have many decisions to make. For many, the decision is made for them. They go where they can get a student permit. This section will help with your decision. I will attempt to give you some questions to lead you in the right direction.

The first question that comes to mind is, where will I get the best possible education? Ask about teacher qualifications. Is the school a public or a private institution. Are they Government registered? A licensed school of quality will be proud to give you the answers.
In the past, British Columbia Private Language schools needed to be registered by PPSEC (Private Post Secondary Education Council). That is no longer the situation. Schools may chose to belong to PPSEC's succesor PCTIA (Private Career Training Institute Association). If they are registered members of PCTIA, your tuition fees are insured. This protects you when you prepay your tuition fees. If the school experiences financial difficulties, your investment is protected. Many of us have heard of unfortunate situations in the news. Make sure you know if you are dealing with a registered private school!

How much will it cost? You have to take several things into consideration for the calculation. Most schools have a registration fee, tuition fee, and required books to purchase.
You have to decide whether to live homestay (room and board), peerstay ( room only) or in an apartment. Most apartments are not furnished. I went over most of this information in a prior story.
Then you have to decide on transportation costs. Will you be taking a bus or buying a car? If you do decide to drive it is best to bring an international driver's license with you. You can use it for the first year in Canada.
Keep in mind insurance costs too. Most people think about health insurance which is mandatory at most schools. Have you thought about property insurance and vehicle insurance? Most students do not think about property insurance. Do you realize if there is a fire, none of your possessions will be covered? A friend of mine was hosting a student who made the unfortunate mistake of leaving a candle burning on the deck of her condo. The entire condo burned in additon to causing damage to the businesses below. My friend lost most of her possessions. but her insurance policy covered most of the financial loss. Her student was not insured and lost her computer, books and personal possessions. The host mothers insurance did not cover the loss for her student. This was a costly mistake that could have been avoidable with property insurance.
Other costs include dental care, eyeglasses and prescription medicine in Canada. Most health insurance policies do not cover these items.

"Will the student be safe?", is a question of prime consideration in a parents mind.
In today's world, it is a fact of life our children have to be taught about possible dangers. Will my child have to be concerned with personal safety? Any student traveling abroad should be educated on possible situations in advance.
What do you do if approached by a stranger in an aggressive manner? What should I do if something I own is stolen? What steps should I take if I have been hurt or sexually assaulted? What if the student is in an accident? What should I do if there is a natural disaster? Make sure a plan is made before your child leaves home! When a student arrives in a foreign country, plans should be made with the host family or friends they are living with. Decide what they should do in each situation, in advance! If they need help with any of this, most schools have counselors to help them.

You have to consider the host country's climate, cost of living and how your child could adapt to the lifestyle in the country you choose. Does the country have sanitary living conditions? Do you need inoculations? Is there an atmosphere of tolerance or will the student need to worry about prejudice?

I may not have given you all the answers in this section, but I hope I have armed you with questions to ask in advance of making your decision. If you need advice, please email me - diannemains@themainsway.com. I will be happy to answer your questions!