We are two best friends from Switzerland who decided to spend six months in Australia to improve our English. It all started back in Switzerland during a very boring math class, when we decided to move to the other side of the world after graduating!
As soon as we arrived in Byron Bay, we completely fell in love with this place. It’s the perfect Australian beach town: everything is close, there are lots of small shops, and coffee spots on every corner. Lexis School is also only a 10 minute walk from the beach.
If we’re speaking about the beaches… they are all incredible! We could see dolphins swimming in the waves almost every day. We also got to visit Gold Coast and Brisbane. It was a one-hour bus ride from Byron Bay. We had some great experiences, but we were always happy to get back home (to Byron Bay).
Our favourite spots in Byron Bay
- The Pass Beach, with a high chance of spotting a koala on the way
- Wategos Beach for BBQs and sunsets
- The Light House (obviously)
- The Top Shop Coffee, the best burgers!
- Sunday Sustainable Bakery every day
- The Bay Grocer, the place where all the Lexis students spend their breaks
- Lexis School, of course the best English school
- Nimbin town, for a unique experience
- Main Beach, the perfect place to learn how to surf
- Paradiso nightclub, we went every Thursday to dance!
- Piano Bar – TikTok got us !
- Rails Bar – A nice bar with live music, a good place to meet everyone
- Salty – A fun club
- Beach hotel – for great music and events
- The Farm – A super coffee shop with lots of animals
- All the pretty farmers and clothes markets
- Acitvities like kayaking, skydiving, snorkeling
Classes at Lexis School
The classes at Lexis School are amazing. First of all, the location of the school is perfect: close to everything and surrounded by nature. The view from the classrooms is beautiful.
The teachers really take the time to explain grammar clearly and the speaking activities are the best way to improve your English.
And of course… Jordan (student services officer) is the best part of Lexis School!
We joined almost every activity organised by the school. Our favourite one was definitely the kangaroo discovery day. There were twenty students that joined the trip, the school rented a big bus, and we visited a small cove, then a beautiful beach further away from Byron Bay, before finishing in a natural park where we walked surrounded by kangaroos. It was unforgettable.
The creative activities, like painting tote bags or making magnets, also helped us meet lots of new people and practice our English in a relaxed atmosphere.
Another great activity was exploring a coffee farm. It was really interesting, and it gave us a chance to get some fresh air and try some delicious coffee.
Our English Progress
Of course, between the two of us, we often spoke French. That’s why it was important to make friends from all around the world so we could practice English as much as possible.
Mission accomplished: we met amazing people who will stay in our hearts forever.
We improved our English so much during these three months at Lexis School, thanks to the daily lessons but especially thanks to all the conversations outside of school.
At the beginning, we doubted ourselves a lot. We searched for words, we were scared of making mistakes… and then one day, something just clicked. The sentences started coming naturally. Of course, we still made mistakes, but the most important thing was being able to communicate. The classes at Lexis helped us improve even more and become more confident.
Our Advice
Our advice for young people who want to go abroad: don’t hesitate for a second!
And most importantly… go to Byron Bay. This place honestly feels like a dream come true. You will never regret your decision.
And if you want to travel with your best friend, do it too!
(Well… maybe choose the right person first)
For us, we shared everything during these three months in Byron Bay, and then spent another three months in Sydney to experience life in a big city.
This adventure brought us even closer together. Sharing the same memories with someone makes the experience even more special.
In ten years, we will still remember all the people we met, every step of the journey, our laughs, our difficult moments, our little adventures!
Not studying with us yet, but would like to?
Lexis Byron delivers academic excellence in arguably Australia’s most desirable study location where you can combine your studies with the great outdoors. Studying at Lexis Byron is more than an experience, it’s a lifestyle! Lexis Byron offers an unrivalled afterschool activity calendar that includes surf lessons, cooking classes, artistic activities, afternoon escapes to surrounding hotspots and full-day weekend adventures. If you want more information on the courses that we offer, click here. Learn English in Byron Bay. Lexis English students study General English, IELTS, FCE, CAE, and English plus Surfing in a friendly and professional school right in the heart of Byron Bay and only 15 minutes from the beach.
