Study Abroad in College
Travel for College Students Desiring Intercultural Skills
Studying abroad is an experience with numerous benefits. It isn"t just for language majors anymore; many universities have study abroad programs. Where does one start?
The first place to begin looking for information regarding study abroad is at the student"s home college. The opportunities may be limited, but these programs may include credit and a support program for professors and other students. If the opportunities offered by the student"s home college do not meet the student"s needs, another college or program may offer one that does.
Planning well in advance would be a good idea. Locations, prices, and course offerings vary. There are other opportunities for travel abroad such as volunteering, interning in a foreign country, teaching English to students in another country, etc. These tips can apply to all international travel, for study abroad or otherwise.
Credit may or may not be offered for the experiences, so research of the program is important. Brochures and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the institution"s website may not answer every question, so emails and phone calls to the institution may give additional information.
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The next determination a student must make is how long the study abroad experience will last. A study abroad experience could be several weeks to a whole semester or year. The longer the experience, at least in relation to language learning or getting acquainted with the culture, the more knowledge one will gain. It may be necessary to get a visa if staying longer than 3 months. Check with the US Department of State to see whether a visa is needed for a longer study abroad program.
Preparing to Study Abroad
Once the study abroad experience is paid for and planned, the participant must prepare themselves for the experience mentally and emotionally. Even the most prepared student may still experience some culture shock. This is normal; however, the attitude held towards the differences experienced will ease any discomfort quicker.
An attitude that will be useful to have is one that is open to the new culture in spite of differences. Conversely, an attitude of the superiority of the traveler"s own culture and inferiority of the culture visited will lead to the individual"s experience to end up negative. Most people who study abroad have some realization of the fact that travel is not just a change of location, but a change of the way of life.
In order to truly get to know the culture, it is important to be sensitive to cultural differences. A traveler may inadvertently offend someone with a certain gesture or cultural practice. Most guidebooks include cultural practices along with suggestions of where to eat and stay, so a guidebook by Lonely Planet or Rick Steves would be a great investment for preparing for travel.
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Additionally, there is the factor of language. Even English speakers who visit English speaking nations may experience some difference in vocabulary or usage. A college student studying abroad needn"t be a fluent speaker of the language of the country being visited, but it would be a good idea to learn some key phrases and expressions of politeness. Rick Steves encourages casual travelers to do this in his many guidebooks, podcasts, and website.
Documenting the Experience Abroad
A final guideline for those studying abroad is the importance of recording the visit. Pictures, a travel journal or blog, souvenirs will help both those at home and the student to see and remember what was experienced during the study abroad and to encourage others to go on such an experience.
Many colleges offer programs with a study abroad component, but if the program doesn"t suit a student, it is more than possible to find the program that does. After deciding what program to attend and for how long, cultural practices and language factors should be considered in order to ease the transition into another way of living. Finally, in order to remember best, a participant should record the experience in any way possible.
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