Why Foreign Language Students Should Choose Manchester to Study English

The vibrant and cosmopolitan city of Manchester has much to offer foreign language students. It’s estimated that over 85,000 higher education students * call Manchester home – travelling from the four corners of the globe to experience Manchester’s immersive and diverse culture and rich history.

Spearheaded by the Manchester Bee which proudly symbolises the city’s industrious past, Manchester is a hive of activity that can broaden the horizons of any foreign language student whilst improving their language skills and cultural awareness.
Here’s just a smattering of reasons why Manchester is a good destination for foreign language students to come and learn English.

World-Renowned Universities and Language Schools

Manchester has three separate universities which feature in the QS World University Rankings 2016-2017. An interactive ranking table which educates students of the most respected global universities, the University of Manchester was placed 29th in the table, just below the University of California, Berkeley. *

In addition to the University of Manchester, the city is home to Manchester Metropolitan University and the Royal Northern College of Music. All three campuses located close to one another creating a broad community for students to be a part of.

The QS Best Student Cities ranking placed Manchester joint as joint 23rd with Barcelona. * A sociable and friendly city, Manchester has much to offer foreign language students eager to experience the city’s expansive range of activities whilst enjoying the homely atmosphere that thrives in its individual communities.

For foreign students there is also the option of language schools. Ones like Communicate School http://www.communicateschool.co.uk are purpose-built for foreign students, which creates a more fun atmosphere. They welcome students from around the world. For example, their Spanish page can be viewed at http://communicateschool.co.uk/es/

Famed Sports Teams

Just as attending lectures and hours the spent in the library are paramount for students to achieve their academic aspirations, so too is time spent relaxing away from the lecture halls. Any student intent on absorbing themselves into the fabric of a city to learn the language will benefit from the interaction and camaraderie found at sports events.

Manchester is famed the world over for having two of the leading football teams in the world – Manchester United and Manchester City. The success of both teams has drawn global attention and made the city more attractive to foreign student’s eager to sit in the stands to see their heroes on every matchday.

Old Trafford – the home of Manchester United – is the largest football stadium in the country. The city has also proudly hosted every major football competition, including the Champions League final and World Cup.

Arts and Culture

With a thriving performing arts and music scene, Manchester offers much for foreign language students with a passion for creativity. Warm, friendly communities have popped up across the city, with the Northern Quarter hosted weekly and monthly events in all areas of arts and culture.

From street art exhibitions to poetry recitals, there are countless events that cost next to nothing to attend. Famed for its music scene, Manchester has given us such great bands as The Smiths and Joy Division. Whether a firebrand music genre gets your toes tapping, or you prefer a more laidback melody, you’ll find just what you’re looking for in Manchester.

Foreign language students will find the more they immerse themselves in all aspects of the English language, the more they’ll begin to pick up, giving them a fully-rounded understanding of regional vernacular and verbal expression. This will greatly help to improve their general communication skills.

Manchester is truly a welcoming, multi-cultural city with a diverse range of activities which are perfect for foreign language students to learn about the many facets of English language and verbal communication. It’s a city that should be at the top of your list when considering where to call home to grasp and develop your English language skills.

Sources:
http://www.manchester.com/features/stats.php
https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings/world-university-rankings/2016
https://www.topuniversities.com/city-rankings/2017