66% of UK teenagers planning to work overseas

According to research released today, millions of teenagers plan to try life in a different language with 66 per cent of 11-18 year olds aiming to work overseas in the coming years.

It seems that today’s teenagers are dissatisfied with their climate, with the majority of teenagers citing better weather (62 per cent) as a reason for moving, while more than half (53 per cent) are tempted by a lower cost of living.

British teens are taking their cue from celebrities who have already made the move, such as formula one driver Lewis Hamilton, who has announced relocation plans to Switzerland, and British-born ‘The OC’ actress Mischa Barton who recently set up home in Paris.

Italy and Spain top the list of desirable European destinations, with young people also rating their residents as the coolest and most fashionable in Europe, coming ahead of Britain and even self-styled fashion capital France.

But while young Brits’ enthusiasm for other countries has never been higher, experts are warning that their language skills leave a lot to be desired. More than half (58 per cent) say they have no language skills at all, despite most (71 per cent) wishing they spoke a foreign tongue.

Today the DCSF is urging young people with dreams of foreign beaches to consider learning a language or else risk becoming lost in translation. To get a taste of life in another language, young people can log on to trylifeinanotherlanguage.com.

Psychologist Donna Dawson comments: “You can get so much out of living or working abroad – it’s a great way to broaden your horizons, make new friends and have experiences that will benefit you throughout your life. But to really make the most of being in new and exciting places, it’s important to immerse yourself in the culture – so learning the language is really key. Having language skills will be a huge advantage when finding your feet in another country, and will be a great asset to your CV whatever you choose to do in the future.”