Option 2: Studying CELTA in another foreign country - Down Under
A) New Zealand
The schedule for the New Zealand classes are all the months that I don't have off. Literally, various combinations of every month, except the three that I could do. This is not a feasible option.
B) Australia - Western Australia
1. Perth Full-time: 7/11-8/5 => Cost: $3300AU (264,739yen) *3100 (249,639yen) early bird special
2. Perth 2 Full-time: 8/3-8/28 => Cost: $3200AU (257,540yen) *$2950 (237,435yen) early bird special
Positives: Both schools offer early bird discounts for finishing paying earlier. Both offer a variety of housing services. Yen is strong against AUD.
Negatives: Australia is expensive. Need a visa. Only offers summer courses.
Housing:
1. Booking fee 240AUD (19,315) + Homestay 1060AUD (85,309) or On-Campus residence: 6-beds 893AUD (71,869) to Twin 1356AUD (109,133) to Single 1584AUD (127,483)
2. Various housing arrangements. Booking fee (all): 230AUD (18,511) + Houseshare: 680AUD (54,728) / Homestay 1000AUD (80,482) / Hostel 1120AUD (90,138) / Student village or house 800AUD (64,385)
Food
1/2. Homestay: Includes breakfast and dinner everyday, plus lunch on the weekend 1,500yen/day for 20 days. Total => 30,000yen.
5000yen/day for 28days. Total => 140,000yen
Transportation
Flight: 110,000 There are some flights for 80,000 or 90,000yen
Transportation: 8,100yen
Total: 200,000
Total Cost
1. Full-time-Homestay: 265,000yen + 106,000 (20,000+86,000) + 30,000 + 200,000 = 601,000
1. Full-time-Residence: 265,000yen + 92,000 (20,000+72,000) + 140,000 + 200,000 = 697,000
2. Full-time-Homestay: 238,000yen + 100,000 (19,000+81,000) + 30,000 + 200,000 = 568,000
2. Full-time-Houseshare: 238,000 + 74,000 (19,000+55,000) + 140,000 +200,000 = 652,000
Thoughts:
Option 2 is cheaper than option 1. Option 1 has preferable schedule for me as it would allow me to theoretically work the second part of the summer. There would be no language barrier. Right now there is a good exchange rate with Australia.
C) South Australia
Tasmania, Hobart: Full-time: 8/8-9/2 => Cost: 3,200AUD (257,540yen)
Positives: Homestay includes 3 meals every day. Everyone speaks English. I've never been to Australia
Negatives: No discount for paying early. Course cost is alittle expensive. Housing cost is mysterious.
Housing:
Options include Homestay (3 meals a day), hotel or unit accommodations. No prices listed. Homestay: 1000AUD?? (80,482yen) Rent: 103,000yen????
Food
5000yen/day for 28days. Total => 140,000yen
Homestay has no additional food costs.
Transportation
Flight: 110,000 The flights can go up to 160,000/180,000
Transportation: 6,000yen
Total: 116,000
Total Cost
Full-time-Homestay: 258,000yen + 81,000 + 0 + 116,000 = 455,000
Full-time-Accommodations: 258,000 + 103,000 + 140,000 + 116,000 = 617,000
Thoughts:
The full-time homestay here is the best option. However there is NO information about the actual cost of that or any of the other accommodations they can help you with. This makes these Total Cost estimates completely unreliable, because housing could be much more than projected here.
D) Victoria
1. Melbourne Full-time: 8/1-8/25 => Cost: 3100AUD (249,492yen)
1.5 Melbourne On-line: 10/10-3/10 => Cost: 3300 AUD (265,588yen)
Positives: Online and Full-time course options. Possibly can do practical during break.
Negatives: Dates are confusing. They need to figure it out. Cost of living is little bit more expensive than Perth or Hobart.
Housing:
133,000yen
Food
5000yen/day for 28days. Total => 140,000yen
Transportation
Flight: 100,000
Transportation: 10,544
Total: 111,000
Total Cost
1. Full-time: 250,000yen + 133,000 + 140,000 + 111,000 = 634,000
1.5 On-line: 265,000yen + 67,000 + 70,000 + 106,000 = 508,000
Thoughts:
The online course might end up being cheaper than the projected cost. Currently the dates are unclear as to how long or when the practical classes would be.
E) Sydney
Full-time: 2/29-3/24, 8/1-8/26 => Cost: 3,545AUD (285,306yen)
Positives: They have resources for studying abroad to Australia. Offer several different kinds of housing.
Negatives: One of the highest costs of living.
Housing:
1. Booking fee 275AUD (22,132) + Homestay Twin 1060AUD (85,310) or Single 1180AUD (94,967) / Studentstayaustralia.com or a4s.com.au Twin 800AUD (64,385) or Single 1020 (82,091) / cozzystay.com.au 230-340 per week
Food
1. Homestay: Includes breakfast and dinner everyday, plus lunch on the weekend 1,500yen/day for 20 days. Total =>30,000yen.
3000yen/day for 28days. Total => 84,000yen
Transportation
Flight: 110,000
Transportation: 12,877
Total: 123,000
Total Cost
Full-time-Homestay: 286,000yen + 109,000 (23,000+86,000) + 30,000 + 123,000 = 548,000
Full-time-studentstay: 286,000 + 65,000 + 84,000 + 123,000 = 558,000
Thoughts:
A spring course is offered. I might have to take a few days off at the end of the year. While the cost of living is highest, the cost of the course and homestay isn't ridiculous and cheaper than in Perth.
F) Brisbane
Full-time: 7/18-8/12 => Cost: 2750AUD (221,323yen)
Positives: The cheapest cost for the class in Australia. Class is early in summer.
Negatives: Not much support for accommodations. Expensive!!
Housing:
150,000
Food
5000yen/day for 28days. Total => 140,000yen
Transportation
Flight: 110,000yen
Transportation: 11,831yen
Total: 123,000
Total Cost
Full-time: 222,000yen + 150,000 + 140,000 + 123,000 = 635,000
Thoughts:
Expensive. This course is a little earlier in summer giving me time to either go around Australia or to have time back at home.
Final Thoughts: Study Abroad Down Under
From my (over)estimations, here are some breakdowns.
From the cheapest to most expensive:
1. *Hobart - Homestay = 455,000** / Accommodations = 617,000**
2. Sydney - Homestay = 548,000 / Guesthouse = 558,000
3. Perth 2 - Homestay = 568,000 / Houseshare = 652,000
4. Perth 1 - Homestay = 601,000 / Residence = 697,000
5. Melbourne (634,000)
6. Brisbane (635,000)
*Hobart = There were no actual values given for housing. These estimates could be wrong.
*** Melbourne has an online course, that should have the cost about 508,000yen, making it the cheapest option for Australia
There are some definite thoughts about Australia being feasible. It is still cheaper than doing it in Japan with the homestay options. Depending on when the online class' practicals would be, would make that class possible or impossible. Unfortunately, until I get a reply back from the school about what exactly they mean with those dates, I can't really say that it is feasible.
Most of the courses are offered over (my) summer vacation to varying degrees. Only Sydney offers a course in March, which I might have to take time off of to take. As for which city I would like, I don't really know enough about any of them to say that one area over another would be preferable.
Option 2: Studying CELTA Abroad - Europe