Abstract
Studying abroad is dream of various students who want to gain knowledge on specific subjects, cultures, languages and technologies. Some people consider it as unnecessary especially in the era of globalization when knowledge in not restricted within the boundaries of any specific country. This paper discusses about various aspects associated with studying abroad. The paper informs about several benefits students gained while studying in different country such as gaining knowledge on other cultures, values and social relationship that do not exist in their home country and knowledge of other languages. Living in a foreign country allow students to evaluate social conditions, life style and various other aspects that are not possible for students to learn while staying in their home country.
Studying abroad is one issue that is very often discussed among students. A number of students wish to study abroad and everyone has a reason for going abroad. On the other hand, there are people who question this trend and call it unnecessary. Studying abroad, in times when the world has become a global village, is considered childish by a number of people. People also claim that studying abroad does not help in filling the cultural gaps and the most significant aspect of studying abroad is the expense that is too high. This paper intends to discuss studying abroad and related aspects of the subject.
Today, an increasing number of students are jumping out to the world for pursuing their education. Why people think that studying abroad becomes their advantage. For example, to master the language can be one of the reasons for study abroad. However, some people claim that studying abroad is nothing special, the reason why we cannot make an effort to acquire second language even in the own country in addition; nowadays, anyone can go if they had even enough money and time to spent. Thus, what is the biggest advantage of study abroad? What people require from the aim of study abroad? How it affect that to put oneself into a different culture? I’m still reminding those things by myself.
Studying abroad widens the opportunities and perspectives of a student. He comes to learn a lot of things about that place, culture, ideas, business models, foreign languages and a lot of other things that further help him in growing. A student meets a number of people while studying abroad and he can make good connections that will help him at every step in his life in different areas. He can make use of all his learning when he starts working for his own. Students, who go to study abroad, visit different places that appear difficult once people start working due to lack of time and other reasons.
Living in a different country gives us many aspects of the way more than we can learn in any textbooks. Once you live in overseas, everyday would turn to be challenge because it’s sometimes required your own effort and courage when you start something new. When you are suddenly dumped into the world where everyone speaks language, which is different from yours, you may be scared out of your mind. While you study abroad, nobody would help you until you perform something by yourself. You're on your own. Such a feeling to rely on yourself might be the experience that will assist you in any way. It might be in such a situation when you need to make a friend or interact with others who are strangers. Studying abroad also gives you a great opportunity to encounter people who come from all over the world and it must be a good way to build up your interpersonal skills.
When you encounter a different idea of the people and different culture from apart the customs that is accustomed until now, it might makes you feel fresh, impressed or frustration at the first time. These psychological impacts and symptoms that caused by cultural differences are called culture shock. In addition, you might notice that there are no relationships between the society and groups that you ever belong to in your country and new place which you come in. You would probably feel those things sometimes during study abroad, rather than most people who study abroad have to deal with the process to shift into another culture from your own culture more or less because you have to build a new identity and roles among foreigners through your academic and personal life. However, these experiences will give you many good opportunities: it is to makes you more resilient, to review your goal what you really want to achieve and not to judge thing with only a value. However, you have to remind that culture shock is difficult to get over for some people. If you thought that you weren’t ready for these kinds of experience, maybe it's not the time to study abroad yet.
When it comes to my case, I changed a lot through my experience. In my case, I didn’t have an enough time to look back during my first year of study abroad in here because all I could do was to get used to the classes and to keep up a lot of assignments in English at that time. However, I could notice that the things what I learned through “American culture” were precious to me when it comes to a second year. First thing is that my way of thinking has totally changed in a good way. For example, Japan is the country, which has only one race, so Japanese has characterized by “groupism:” people value a cooperative in a society. When I was in Japan, I was one of the people who paid attention other persons’ gaze all the time. In addition, I worried about how I looked like from the others. To cooperate with others is one of the good aspects of Japanese culture. However, it can be happen that an individual is sacrificed for the society. For example, we prioritize the success as a group more than an individual one. Everything is to harmonize the society that people belongs to. On the other side, it seems that people in the United States value more an individual. I think it’s because of American peoples’ diversity. It is necessary to learn about yourself and your own culture. When you stand outside of your culture for a change, you get new perspectives on it and your role within it. Studying abroad has positive as well as negative aspects and students should consider every aspects of studying abroad before making any decision in this regard. Studying abroad decision should be taken after analyzing benefits especially during the times of economic recession. Studying abroad may not guarantee of a good job but it certainly gives opportunity to learn language, culture and social values of other country.
