Besides the sights, food, and sense of adventure that comes with the appeal of studying abroad, there are other elements to the program that can be beneficial to a student’s future. If you are a student, and money is not the main issue that you consider before studying abroad, perhaps you should think about these other facts about studying abroad that will help broaden and nourish your education. You will notice that each point builds off of another.
#1 Become Cultured
Being cultured does not mean that a person becomes snooty. It is becoming well-versed and knowledgeable with other’s surroundings, becoming aware that there are other cultures and people who live different lives than your own. Being cultured is a form of education because you are learning about other people, which actually make you also learn more about yourself.
#2 Learn Independence
This may actually be the immediate appeal of studying abroad for some people – getting away from authority figures. Depending on whether it is a foreign exchange or a group study abroad program, there are still people who you have to check-in with and answer to. However, being without your ordinary care-givers and learning the rules of another chaperone actually forces you to depend on yourself to deal with the changes around you. You may need to go shopping for yourself, get used to the foreign transportation, and learn to communicate with new people. Adjusting to the different lifestyle and regimen makes you depend on your own ability to mature with an ever-changing life, whether it is in a foreign country or when you eventually go back to your own home soil.
#3 Become a Better Student
Learning independence can greatly improve your study habits, which in effect creates a better student. Although there is much to offer with the surroundings in a foreign country, a study abroad program forces students to study hard. If you believe that you are traveling to a foreign country to slack off, you are under the wrong impression. Study abroad programs keep their students busy with classes and homework. A friend of mine told me that his trip to Spain kept him so busy with his school work that he only had time to sight-see on the weekend. And, having spent the money as well as the effort of getting into the program, students feel more inclined to do a good job, and learn to depend on themselves to get a good grade since there isn’t really anyone else to force you to do your homework except for you. But, with all of your new friends around you studying hard, you can feel inspired to try just as hard as everyone else.
#4 Learn a Second Language
Usually, students who study abroad visit with a country that speaks another language. Although this is not always the case, since students could easily study in England, Ireland, or Scotland where they speak English, if you do go to a country with a different language, you are forced to pick up some of it. Even if you do not become fluent in the language, you will at least learn enough to have broken conversations or get by. Knowing a second language is extremely beneficial in regards to your education since schools want students to learn a second language anyway, and speaking at least two languages is even beneficial to your career since most jobs are impressed with applicants who speak more than one language.
#5 Improves Resume
Learning a second language, earning independence, and become cultured are all parts of studying abroad that impress employers. Everything that you can gain from a study abroad program will help you be a better worker in the future, and employers recognize that. Putting your study abroad program on your resume is a great addition to the skills and education you have earned.
by Julia H. Jackson
I saw the film L’Auberge Espagnole shortly before I made the decision to spend six months studying in Granada, Spain. The 2002 movie, which translates to “The Spanish Apartment,” follows a French grad student during his adventurous and life-changing year studying in Barcelona. I was considering taking on a Spanish minor, and knew that if I really wanted to master my language skills, I needed to invest in cultural immersion. Somehow, the idea of spending another six months filling out language workbooks in California wasn’t nearly as exciting as the prospect of actually having to survive in another language 24 hours a day, seven days a week, far from home. After a consultation with my academic counselor, I discovered that if I found the right program and the right university, I could fulfill requirements for my major and minor abroad. I marched to my university’s study abroad office, and stayed for an hour, mesmerized by the array of brilliantly colored brochures advertising foreign study programs. Where did I want to go? How much would it cost? Did I want to live with a host family? Did I want to go for a summer, a semester, or (gulp) a year?
Today, we’ll share 5 Programs that Sponsor International Study, while keeping in mind the criteria when considering foreign study programs. Namely: school accreditation, transferring academic credit, housing options, school financing, term lengths, language requirements…If you are considering studying abroad, you might start by perusing the following online resources.
Average grade level participant: undergraduate, graduate, post-doctoral, or professional
Average term length: varies, depending on the program, although usually between 6 months-one year
Average cost: varies, but the IIE has links to many government-sponsored programs, which can offer varying amounts of funding, depending on your field and level of experience
This organization is home to a variety of study- and work-abroad programs, and its study abroad portal is a comprehensive search engine for associated foreign study programs. The IIE is a great place to go to get information about prestigious fellowship programs, such as the Fulbright Scholarship, which offers funded trips for graduate students, teachers, and researchers. When in doubt, try stopping by one of their American offices, in San Francisco, Washington D.C., Houston, New York City, Denver, or Chicago.
Average age: 15-25 years old
Term length: short term (3-6 weeks) and long term (one year)
Average cost: participants pay for travel, clothing, and insurance
Famous for being the world’s “first service club organization,” Rotary International sends more than 8,000 students around the world each year as part of an international exchange. Students live with host families, attend local schools, and serve as cultural ambassadors. Rotary also hosts local community service clubs through Rotaract, as well as a teen exchange program called Interact.
Average age: high school, college, graduate, professional
Average term length: varies anywhere from one week to one year
Average cost: varies depending on the program
The CIEE website breaks down its offerings as “study,” “work,” “train,” “teach,” “hire,” “host,” and “connect.” This is a great way to browse international work and study programs, whether you are a high school student looking for an exchange abroad or a teacher wanting to participate in the International Faculty Development Seminars. A great resource not only for academics, but also for any recent college graduates considering a year teaching abroad. I enjoyed my semester in Spain so much that after completing my bachelor’s degree, I worked as a Language and Culture Assistant in southern Spain as part of their Teach Abroad program.
This website presents study abroad programs from around the world in a way that’s simple to navigate. If you have a specific idea country or field of interest in mind, the database will help you narrow down your options. It also summarizes the differences between major American study-abroad companies, such as the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS), CEA Global Education, and Academic Programs International. Although there is less comprehensive financial aid information, IIEPassport does promote diverse offerings, and might help you if you are looking for a private company to work with.
Age, term length, and cost varies from program to program, although most of them listed are privately owned, so they are likely to be more expensive than government-sponsored exchanges.
1. Your University Study Abroad Office
The number of great study abroad programs out there can be overwhelming, and perhaps your main goal is to fulfill requirements for your degree. If that’s the case, a surefire way to insure that you get the right credit for the right classes is to go through your own university’s study abroad program. Most universities have partnerships with schools abroad, or may even have academic affiliations with departments in other countries. If that’s the case, go for it! If you plan to study in a non-English-speaking country, this may be the best bet, because it will often require you to take classes with other international students or non-Americans. Sound scary? It might be at first, but the immersion will do wonders for your speaking and comprehension skills!
If your school does not have a study abroad office, you can still get credit for going through other university programs. Make an appointment with your academic advisor to review the programs you are considering, and together you can map out a way to get credit for your classes abroad.
A few good examples of university programs include the University of California’s Education Abroad Program (EAP), Boston University International Programs and Arcadia University College of Global Studies.
If you could go anywhere, where would you go? What would you study? What would your Spanish apartment look like? We hope this is the first step in getting you to explore the world, if you haven’t already….
By Julia H. Jackson
Before the Discovery Channel, Google Earth, and YouTube, most people couldn’t travel the world from the comfort of their own home. The World Wide Web has transformed the way we see the world, and how easily we access it. What did people do before the internet? Well, here’s one easy answer: they read more books. Writers are translators of culture, and today we’re showcasing Five Writers from Five Countries whose work might transport you further than a Ryan Air flight, and for less money.
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