This practice set is based on the article:
“Lost in Your Study Abroad Journey? How to Overcome the ‘3rd-Year Emptiness’ (EN)”
(link to original article)

Level：TOEIC 600–800 / IELTS 5.5–6.5

Target： Japanese learners who are preparing for or currently experiencing long-term study abroad and feel mentally “stuck.”

Reading Passage

Many students in their third year of studying abroad experience a strange feeling. Their English has improved, and daily life has become easier. However, instead of feeling proud, they begin to sense a deep emptiness. One student (name changed) said she suddenly felt lost after graduating from a vocational school. She no longer had a clear goal, and this caused her to lose motivation.

This feeling often appears when students no longer have a specific target to work toward. During the first and second years abroad, everything is new: the environment, the language, and the challenges. However, by the third year, the excitement begins to fade. Life becomes stable, and students begin to question their purpose.

To overcome this “third-year emptiness,” experts recommend three steps: (1) Take a simple self-inventory of your skills and experiences. (2) Set three small, short-term goals. (3) Share your plans with someone who can support you. These actions help students reconnect with their own growth and move forward again.

Questions

Q1. Why do many students feel emptiness in their third year of studying abroad?

A. They fail their assignments repeatedly.
B. They no longer have exciting goals to pursue.
C. They cannot make friends in the new country.
D. They ignore English learning completely.

Q2. What does the passage say about the student (name changed)?

A. She felt lost because she didn’t have a clear target after graduation.
B. She disliked the local culture and wanted to move to another country.
C. She preferred part-time work to studying.
D. She achieved all her goals in the first year and gave up.

Q3. What is the closest meaning of “self-inventory” as used in the passage?

A. A list of personal skills and experiences
B. A periodic exam for students abroad
C. A type of visa application form
D. A daily journal of study sessions

Q4. Why do experts recommend setting three small goals?

A. Because short-term goals create immediate progress.
B. Because they guarantee success in a new country.
C. Because large goals are always too difficult.
D. Because they help avoid English classes.

Q5. Writing Task（25–35 words）

Write about one small goal you could set if you feel stuck in your study-abroad or language-learning journey.
Example start: “My goal is to…” / “I want to focus on…”

Answer Key

Answer Key is available here: Answer Key｜“3rd-Year Emptiness in Study Abroad” – Reading Practice