For a long time it has been widespread that, taking advantage of the summer holidays, many young people who have finished high school make short stays in foreign countries to improve their English. What is no longer so common among these generations is that this stay lasts up to a whole year, in what is known as a gap year or sabbatical year. This trend, common in Anglo-Saxon countries and also in the Nordic countries, was a rarity in Spain until now, but it is increasingly attracting more interest and a greater training offer.
Properly focused, the gap year –thought above all for students between the ages of 18 and 22– is not only used to practice a language or travel, but can also be a good opportunity to improve future employability options. In our country there is a certain lack of knowledge about these training programs and the keys to get the most out of them.
The usual thing is to do the gap year when you finish high school, but it can also be considered after university or even after working for a few years. Like any investment, it is necessary to plan and save in advance.
In no case is the gap year option “an alternative to university, rather the objective is to prepare young people so that, in the future, they can get the most out of their university studies and other areas of their personal and professional lives” , explains Xavier Martí, CEO of Education First (EF), one of the international language teaching companies abroad that has more than 430 schools in 50 countries. The experience of leaving the comfort zone can allow the student to develop talent and learn to be more independent, according to Martí.
In the itineraries offered by specialized companies there is the possibility of doing practical sessions in companies as well as accessing official exam preparation courses. The choice of destination is important. Preferences so far? UK and US In the case of EF, for example, New York is very popular, although Sydney is beginning to follow on its heels.
English is the language most chosen by students. Two out of three young Spaniards between the ages of 18 and 25 know how to speak it, according to the INE. The level, however, is another matter.
