It’s no secret that COVID-19 has caused serious disruption to the lives of young people throughout the world. Many students, who were looking forward to studying abroad, have experienced massive disappointment as they see their dreams dissolve due to pandemic restrictions and canceled courses. However, travel limitations are becoming softer, and, with time, they will be lifted completely. In this blog post, we explore the benefits that studying abroad can bring to college, university, and postgraduate students.
According to NAFSA, over 160.000 American students studied abroad in 2019-2020, marking a 53% decline from previous years due to COVID. The vast majority of students – 57,9% – study in Europe, with Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, France, and Ireland being the most popular countries. Latin America is in second place, hosting 13,4%; Asia holds the third place, with 9,1% of students attending educational institutions there.
Studying abroad can bring a world of possibilities to college and university students. It is an enriching and life-changing experience that has the potential to transform a person’s personal, intellectual, professional, and social life. The time frame of studying abroad can range from several months to several years for dedicated students in search of knowledge and skills. Apparently, not all participants achieve the same level of success from this experience; some may even find their studies abroad inconsequential. Nevertheless, studying in an international setting offers a unique opportunity that encourages development on multiple levels beyond those provided by traditional learning environments.
On the one hand, studying abroad offers students a unique opportunity to gain valuable knowledge, insight, and experiences from other cultures. On the other hand, studying in a foreign country is inevitably accompanied by tangible struggles, both personal and professional. As a result, some students may question whether this journey is worth taking. The key factor here is that in contrast with studying at home, the cultural diversity in foreign countries can shape a student’s learning process enormously and provide opportunities that are unavailable domestically. Therefore, it is worth considering studying abroad as an invaluable part of any education journey as it can serve as an incentive towards success and future growth. So, let’s take a closer look at the benefits going to another country to study might bring to virtually any student.
For starters, studying abroad may offer students valuable opportunities to gain language proficiency and experience new cultures. Hopkins (1993) claims: “Study abroad programs take many forms, but all share the characteristic that, by their very nature, they provide students with a healthy dose of experiential learning. Immersing oneself in another culture provides new opportunities for learning.” However, this notion was challenged by the NAFSA: Association of International Educators. During the organization’s International Conference in May 2010, it issued a proposal which said that who proposed that simply changing location might not cause sufficient exposure and does not guarantee that local experiences will have an immediate impact on a student’s development. According to NAFSA, motivation and a particular student’s personality are essential for successful adaptation to a new culture. In other words, extrovert students adjust more comfortably, while introverts may have a hard time socializing abroad. As a result, international students’ experiences can be vast in range. Some return home with strong language, cultural and social skills. Others, unfortunately, experience no benefit due to a lack of exposure or an apathetic attitude to local environments. On the positive side, most international students are eager to learn new things and willing to explore – or even embrace – both foreign languages and cultures.
Powerful language learning opportunities become available during studying abroad as it provides both a classroom and cultural context for immediate practice. Instead of relying on a common belief that living situations and contacts with native media are key to improved proficiency, the research by Sieloff Magnan, S. Back, M. (2008) shows that academic settings are a viable option for progress in second-language acquisition. They report that even short, semester-long programs are capable of promoting meaningful language gains through interaction both within the classroom setting and outside it while engaging natives in conversations. As a result, studying abroad provides a unique opportunity to develop language skills in an immersive and practical way rather than simply learning through textbooks or courses.
Next, studying abroad offers a range of intercultural benefits, including increased understanding and appreciation for other cultures as well as one’s own. It further encourages students to view the world in more sophisticated ways and unlocks the potential for long-term impacts on personal development, even if these advantages may not be immediately visible. This benefit is closely connected to the next one – career development.
Empirical research has attested to the fact that studying abroad offers invaluable advantages to a student’s career development. A 2007-2008 study conducted by Trooboff, Van Deberg, and Rayman concluded that the majority of employers strongly appreciate international experience when assessing applicants. Hence, it can be inferred that studying abroad is likely to have an enduring impact on advancing one’s professional journey. One of the factors most valued by prospective employers is that during their studies abroad, students can gain priceless confidence and the necessary tools to become self-sufficient. This experience can make an impact on their CV and help them stand out when applying for postgraduate jobs. Nevertheless, it is true that job opportunities may be scarce due to intense competition from highly qualified candidates in today’s tough economy. The reason behind this is that studying abroad offers many professional development opportunities, such as honing critical thinking and data analyzing skills, adaptability, problem solving, effectively working under pressure, and operating outside their comfort zone. On the flip side, returning home after gaining foreign work experience could make it challenging to resettle in one’s country of origin due to the detachment from local industry standards.
Still, many employers highly value individuals who have studied abroad, as they are typically viewed to be more independent and possess greater career-building skills. A student returning from an overseas experience is often perceived to demonstrate higher responsibility in the workplace alongside increased readiness for any arising challenge. Furthermore, the type of degree attained while abroad may give an individual a competitive edge over peers with similar academic credentials earned domestically.
Another benefit of studying abroad in terms of the job market is cultivating an international perspective and honing skills that differentiate them. For example, living among different cultural groups can equip individuals with interpersonal abilities, which are highly valued by employers.
Ultimately, studying abroad presents numerous advantages that far outweigh any corresponding challenges. Through firsthand experience with the culture, language, and environment of a foreign country, students gain valuable knowledge and skills for their personal development as well as future professional prospects. Consequently, enrolling in an overseas study program is likely to provide worthwhile remunerations on all fronts: social life; academic success; intellectual maturity; cultural awareness, among many other benefits. Studying abroad offers a unique, life-changing experience that cannot be matched by staying home. It allows students to develop independence and confidence while engaging with different cultures and learning from a global viewpoint – skills integral for future success both personally and professionally.
Unfortunately, due to the current COVID restrictions, many students are unable to take advantage of studying abroad and gaining new skills. But the restrictions won’t last forever; they will be lifted sooner or later, giving young people a chance to grab an excellent opportunity to enhance their expertise. In the meantime, college and university students who don’t want to wait can benefit from virtual programs, distance learning, online courses, and other digital-based solutions. Thus, when studying abroad becomes available again, students will have a competitive edge over other contestants.
References
Hopkins, J. R. (1999). Studying Abroad as a Form of Experiential Education. Liberal Education. P.85, 34-6.
Sieloff, Magnan, S. Black, M. (2008) Social Interaction and Linguistic Gain During Study Abroad, Foreign Language Annals. 40/1, p43-61.
Pellegrino Aveni, V. A. (1998). Student Perspectives on Language Learning in a Study Abroad Context. (available online): http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?hl=en&q=frontiers pellegrino &btnG=Search&as_sdt=2000&as_ylo=&as_vis=0
Trooboff, S., Van Deberg, M., and Rayman, J. (2007-2008) Employers Attitudes Towards study Abroad (available online): http://www.frontiersjournal.com/documents/TrooboffVandebergRaymonFRONTIERSJOURNALXVWinter2007-08-pdf.pdf
Just how are Students Different After Study Abroad. NAFSA International Conference (May 2010). Kansas City, MO. (available online): http://proposals.nafsa.org/Abstract_Uploads/1410.61212.GS028.pdf
Kim, Y. Y. (1991). Intercultural Communication Competence: A Systems-theoretic View. P.259-275.
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