Hi all, I plan to do an exchange program this year to improve my English. It is not confirmed, but if all goes well, I'll take working vacations in May (I know, it's a bit at the minute). I still can not decide for me what country I'll go (I can not close a contract with any school yet because my boss might change the date of my vacation).

The fact is, that when I take, I will make a 4-week program (maximum time of my vacation).
I want your help! What country / city you find it interesting to spend a month and why (If you live or know the place, please give me tips of what to do in free time)?

(I did not put South Africa because I'm afraid of having problems with transport etc.)

A small gift for my helpers

This post is sponsored by Google Translator

EDIT: EUA = USA

8 years ago*

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... with English as official language.

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Canada
England
EUA
Australia
New Zealand
Another country, which?

come to Canada, B.C or Alberta where everything costs so much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

8 years ago
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Except gas. It's dirt cheap right now in Alberta. Less so in BC.

8 years ago
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eh, rip all my engineering friends and the graduates. Everyone is getting laid off or can't find a job.

8 years ago
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USA! USA!

8 years ago
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Canada really good and i alway dream to come that place and norway too

8 years ago
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It kinda depends on what you like and find interesting. And what temperature.

In May it's heading into winter in New Zealand and Australia (but not such a problem in Brisbane or Perth).

My picks for cities
London or New York would be heading into summer. With tons to see and do. Amazing places to visit if you haven't already.
Auckland, New Zealand (where i live) is ALOT quieter. A few things to see but tourism here is more about taking journeys for scenery or physical activity (surfing, tramping, biking, bungee, skiing etc). Public transport is very weak here also.
A city that I really enjoyed visiting recently was Sydney, Australia. Good weather and just a ton to see in and around the city.

8 years ago
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England could be good, that way you can also visit a lot of different countries easily :)

8 years ago
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Like so many I vote Canada as well. But, I'm throwing in a vote for the East coast. It's quiet, friendly and homey. I've traveled East to West and across the North, and really, you shouldn't have an issue finding a place to your liking.

8 years ago
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Maybe just do the US? Idk, that's really all I can think of

8 years ago
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Come see us in Canada. In the winter.
Muhahahah.

8 years ago
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Winnipeg is definitely the warmest place to visit in the winter, I swear.

8 years ago
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Then Eastern Canada. I'll provide the hot chocolate.

8 years ago
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I've always wanted to travel to the UK myself. That would be my choice. Have fun wherever you go:)

8 years ago
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If one wants to learn the Queens English there really is only one place one should visit and that my good man is England. The problem is depending on which part of our fair nation you visit you may learn a more localized version of the Queens English with local slang as is the norm these days.

How ever do take into account cost of said trip and Jet lag a tired brain is less perceptive to learning.

8 years ago
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Canadaaa!

8 years ago
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Go to Vancouver, B.C. in Canada.

8 years ago
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I like being that guy so unless someone has said it before me, here's a free lesson from an unaccredited instructor:

English is the de jure official language at the national level only of Canada (though some states in the USA have English as an official language). English is only the de facto official language of the rest of those countries (English is a de jure official language of Ireland--it is only a de factor official language of the United Kingdom).

Also, unlike many other languages, such as Spanish or French, there is no official authority that can dictate rules governing the English language.

I hope my pedantry was appreciated.

Anyway, you're Brazilian, and I'd say go to the USA. It's the culture you've almost certainly been exposed to the most by far and now you get to have your perceptions of it smash up against the reality of personal experience. I would argue the same for most anyone in the western hemisphere from a Latin American country asking the question: go to USA.

Also, there are other similarities between Brazil and the US; both are 'New World' former colonies, recipients of millions of disenfranchised from the Atlantic slave trade, and dominate to a degree their continent by population and land mass (sorry Canada, you're America's hat, and while you are huge most of you is frozen).

I don't know if you're Afro-Brazilian or not and maybe this last bit of rationale is more or less persuasive because you are/aren't, but that's just my take on things.

8 years ago
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Why isn't there an official authority to regulate English?
Would you prefer one?
I am reading some linguistics lately, about the Celtic, Arabic, Punic and Latin influences in my language (Spanish). I am becoming interested in the history of another languages so that's the reason why I am asking you.
The RAE is the authority in charge of my language and I have to admit that they are pretty reluctant to change and to the modern era (specifically in the use of neutral pronouns instead of genre pronouns, since the use of genre has very strong sexist roots in many cases) but they provide a good base of rules in order to achieve a neutral Spanish that can be understood by every Spanish speaker regardless of their country.

8 years ago*
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The English just never had an official body regulate the language, I guess.

I don't know if I prefer one. It would promote standardization whereas there are lots of little myths and nonsense proscriptions against certain constructs in English that are without foundation, such as ending a sentence with a preposition (came to the fore while English scholars had a hard-on for Latin, a language in which such a thing is not possible) or the continued idiotic assertion that "ain't" is not a word.

On the other hand, no official body means that things are more fluid, and can more easier embrace a descriptivist model, which I personally favor.

8 years ago
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I'd say since this is a rather unique opportunity that you may not have again. Base your decision on what trip will give you the most interesting experience. But consider accessibility aswell, sometimes its nice to be able to spread your wings and touch on different cultural experiences in the process.

The benefits of Europe is that everything is much closer together. Which is well worth considering.

8 years ago
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England/UK, which is where I'd definitely go, hehe. Or, the US... I suppose this country isn't too bad.

8 years ago
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I'd like canada or england or ireland

8 years ago
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I would say that:
Don't listen to what others recommend you. Google all that countries and see which of them seems most exotic and "unknown" culturally for you. Then pick it and enjoy expanding horizons and learning about different world!

Since English is the main language in all of them, you will improve it anyway, and what accent you gain by the way doesn't really matter.

8 years ago
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Yes, I google about all for a certain time, I think South Africa have a lot of things to do (I love nature and have contact with nature and wildlife but I discarded from the motives I said before. The Canada I always have interest, principle because there is possible see the Northern Light (but in May have low chances :( ), and I need vi$a to enter in the country, Usa I need too and one of my teacher said that there is difficult to understand because they use a lot of contractions. The Oceania is far and expensive but interesting. And Uk, besides England, the other countrys have 2 languages and I have my doubts about it, I probably dont understand nothing in irish etc haha, and have the problem with the high deportation rates of brazilian.

So how are people here from all over the world, my intention was to know why they believe that place will be more interesting. Some things we dont found on Google, but citizens know.

8 years ago
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Of course, Ireland !

8 years ago
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To propose something different: Have you considered Malta?
English is an official language. I don't know if you can fill 4 weeks well there, but there is plenty to see and do.
No, I don't live there, but I've been there on holiday before :)

8 years ago
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a lot of brazilians do this program in Malta, but is more expensive than go to London, for example. And until now I dont see anything that put Malta in the top of the list, I read a lot about the night life, is just this?

8 years ago
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