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Read the following story. Then, answer the questions that follow.
When Thai students think of studying abroad, they often think first of the UK or US. But there’s an English-speaking European country that is becoming increasingly popular.
QUALITY EDUCATION
“Ireland has become a lot more popular as an education destination for Thai students over the past three years,” says Seamus McHugh, recruitment manager at Bangkok’s Irish education agency, Study Ireland. “Students and parents are now aware that the quality of education in Ireland is one of the best in the world while also being cost-effective when compared to the UK or US. It is one of the safest countries in the world which is very important for families when looking at locations worldwide. Ireland has the fastest growing economy in Europe and there are huge opportunities for students to work in Ireland, as the government has a scheme where non-EU students can stay on after they graduate to find a job.”
COMFORT ZONE
This positivity is shared by a number of Thai students who recently returned from studying in Ireland. Toey Bieniek studied in the capital, Dublin, and had a memorable time.
“My overall experience in Ireland was the best I could ever have,” she said. “Everybody was very friendly and helped me a lot. I got to do things on my own and get out of my comfort zone. It was quite a challenge for me because I’m a shy person but after being in Ireland I’m not shy any more. My host family was great as well, and very friendly and talkative. Most importantly, Irish food is delicious.”
FRIENDLY FOLK
One aspect of Irish life that alumni always mention is the friendliness of the Irish people. There’s even a saying in the Irish language, céad míle fáilte, which translates as “one hundred thousand welcomes.” Tan Harnamornset, who studied medicine at University College Cork, enjoyed the warmth of the local people during her time in the peaceful city.
“Cork is a friendly and quiet city with its own beauty. It’s a brilliant place to study and the university itself has great facilities and the lectures are really impressive. There is great diversity at UCC with a lot of international students from more than 100 countries. Also, there are many interesting clubs and societies to join. The city centre is filled with many restaurants and grocery stores, including an Asian supermarket. It was an enjoyable experience at UCC and I believe I chose the right course and the right university.”
WARM MEMORIES
Since 2014, Ireland has had an embassy in Bangkok. The ambassador, H.E. Brendan Rogers, has a message for Thai students who are considering Ireland as a study destination.
“If you come to study in our universities, you will receive a world class education, have a wonderful time and hopefully be a special ambassador for Ireland in years to come,” Ambassador Rogers said. “I meet graduates of Irish universities in Thailand as I move throughout the country and they all have very warm memories of their time in Ireland. We have set up a Thai Alumni Network for Thai graduates of Irish universities and they will act as mentors for Thai students who require advice on studying in Ireland.
“We have just had a visit to Bangkok from our Minister of State for Education. The Minister’s visit underlines the seriousness with which Ireland is approaching the education sector in Thailand. We hope that the cooperation between Ireland and Thailand will be in both directions. It is an exciting time for education links between our two great countries.”
For more information, visit the Study Ireland office at RSU Tower, Sukhumvit Soi 31, or go to studyireland.education.
SECTION 1
Read through the story and answer the following multiple-choice questions.
1. Where is Ireland?
A. In the UK.
b. In North America.
c. In Europe.
2. What is Study Ireland?
a. An education agency.
b. A university programme.
c. A division of the Irish embassy.
3. What language do they speak in Ireland?
a. English.
b. Irish.
c. Both a and b.
4. What did Tan study at University College Cork?
a. Marketing.
b. Medicine.
c. The Irish language.
5. What do former students commonly say about Ireland?
a. The food is delicious.
b. The people are very friendly.
c. The weather is very cold.
6. Which of the following statements is TRUE, according to the article?
a. Seamus McHugh is Study Ireland’s marketing manager.
b. Tan said Cork is a crowded and noisy city.
c. Ireland’s Minister of State for Education recently visited Thailand.
7. Which of the following statements is NOT true, according to the article?
a. Brendan Rogers is the Irish ambassador to Thailand.
b. Céad míle fáilte means “hundreds of thousands of people.”
c. Toey likes Irish food.
SECTION 2
Match each of the following words used in the story with the correct definitions from the choices given.
| 8. positivity | a. giving the best possible profit or benefits in comparison with the money that is spent |
| 9. mentor | b. the practice of being or tendency to be optimistic in attitude |
| 10. scheme | c. a range of many people or things that are very different from each other |
| 11. cost-effective | d. to emphasise or show that something is important or true |
| 12. underline | e. an experienced person who advises and helps somebody with less experience over a period of time |
| 13. diversity | f. a plan or system for doing or organising something |
SECTION 3
Read the following passage. Then, fill in the blanks with the correct words from the choices given.
Ireland is a beautiful country …..14….. in the most westerly part of Europe. …..15….. is famous for its amazing landscape, friendly …..16….. and rich culture of art, music and literature. It is one of the top tourist …..17….. in the world and one of the safest places to live and work. …..18….. , Ireland had the fastest growing economy in Europe for 2014, 2015 and 2016 and …..19….. now referred to as the “Silicon Valley of Europe.”
14.
a. locate
b. located
c. location
15.
a. It
b. Its
c. It’s
16.
a. local
b. locality
c. locals
17.
a. destination
b. destinations
c. destinies
18.
a. Then
b. Because
c. In addition
19.
a. is
b. was
c. has
Answers
Section 1
1. c.
2. a.
3. c.
4. b.
5. b.
6. c.
7. b.
Section 2
8. b.
9. e.
10. f.
11. a.
12. d.
13. c.
Section 3
14. b.
15. a.
16. c.
17. b.
18. c.
19. a.
Section 4
20. Adverb.
21. Adjective.
22. Verb.
23. Noun.
24. Noun.
SCORE
21-24: Excellent!
17-20: Good.
13-16: Fair.
12 or fewer: You'll do better next time!
