Expanding Horizons Through a Semester Abroad
Studying abroad is a deeply enriching experience for students seeking to explore the language, culture, and people of a different country.
College is the perfect time for students to travel the world and seek out exciting adventures before settling into a full-time career post-graduation. Many students take a semester or even a year of school to travel to a foreign location and become immersed in the everyday life and culture of the local people. Through this experience, students learn to be independent, culturally sensitive, and open to new people and ideas.
Choosing to study abroad is not an easy decision to make. Most students must take into account a wide range of influencing factors such as financial issues, time commitments, and distance from home. Being a personal essay writer, I know that it can be a difficult process to find a suitable study-abroad program, decide on the right time to go and pick out an ideal destination. However, in the end, it is undeniably worth the risk to take the giant leap away from home to be submerged in a foreign environment.
Choosing the Right Time to Study Abroad
Due to continuous commitments with school, work, and family, there may never be the perfect time to move away for a semester to a foreign country. There will always be certain commitments or opportunities that a student must forego in order to live away from home for an extended period of time, and it is essential to have the support of family and friends. However, most study abroad participants will find that what they gain from the experience far outweighs any losses.
Another factor to consider when deciding when to go is language proficiency. Many students find that studying a foreign language in high school helps pave the way for studying abroad in college. After a few years of learning a language, students are equipped with sufficient conversational skills to initially survive in a different country. During the course of their stay, their language skills will undoubtedly improve at an exponential rate from being fully immersed in the language on a daily basis.
Choosing the Right Company to Study Abroad
An important question to ask is, “Should I go alone or with company?” The experience can be entirely different depending on whether a student chooses to travel independently or with friends, but each situation has its advantages. On one hand, studying abroad with one or two friends can prevent early feelings of loneliness from not knowing anyone in the area. It is also helpful to have companions along when first attempting to decipher the roads, directions, and signs of a foreign place.
However, bringing along friends can also detract from the overall experience of studying abroad. Being alone in a foreign place motivates one to venture out and meet new people, discarding any previous barriers of shyness or self-consciousness. This facilitates integration with the locals and the freedom to explore a new group of friends. Bringing along a friend might create a disconnect between the student and the local environment.
Picking an Appropriate Location to Study Abroad
In the end, the destination is what makes or breaks the experience. It is a deeply enriching experience to be immersed in a completely foreign environment, surrounded by new sights, smells and sounds. It can be amazing for students interested in learning about different languages and cultures. However, it can also be detrimental if the location does not fit the student. Potential study abroad participants need to choose a location wisely based on certain factors.
For one thing, it is important to have a basic understanding of the language. This will help students not only be able to get around the city but will prevent outright feelings of displacement and separation from home. Also, having a better understanding of the language will facilitate a more welcoming attitude from locals. It is also important to consider factors such as cost, weather, size of the city, and overall cultural environment. For example, destinations in Europe are much more expensive than those in Asia, but they may provide more historical beauty and aesthetic appeal. Thus, it is all about finding the right balance of preferred criteria.
After careful consideration of the factors stated above, choosing to study abroad can be a life-changing experience and an exquisite opportunity to discover the world and develop one’s character. It is a gateway to a wealth of creative thinking, new social interaction, and overall cultural acceptance that is not easily found at home.
