Study Abroad | Education & Travel

Benefits of Studying Abroad

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Students considering studying abroad are usually excited but also somewhat anxious about leaving the comforts of home and living in an unfamiliar place. This is understandable, as new situations can make even the bravest people nervous at times. However, the countless benefits of studying abroad solidly outweigh the negatives and should quickly abate any lingering doubts or concerns a student may have.

First, students studying abroad for a semester learn quickly to rely on themselves, consequently building independence and self confidence. While teachers and sponsors are always available to provide help and advice if necessary, living abroad requires that students depend more on their own ingenuity and skills than when they are studying at home.

Students studying a foreign language will learn it more quickly and thoroughly when they are immersed in the language. For example, if a student studying Chinese travels to China to live for a period of time, he’ll be forced to rely on his knowledge of Chinese much more than if he was simply sitting in a class at his university back home.

Learning about other cultures and developing tolerance for the way other people live is an important part of coming of age. High school and college students are on the cusp of joining society as fully contributing members and those that have the ability to understand the way others live, even if they live very differently from the way the student lives, are at an advantage in the workplace as well as in life.

The decision to study abroad is one that should not be taken lightly. The costs and benefits should be carefully studied as students and their parents make their decision. However, the benefits are great and students will surely gain an irreplaceable and memorable life experience should they choose the option of studying abroad.

Filed Under: Foreign Exchange Programs, Online Education Tagged With: China, Foreign language, Study abroad

Two Expenses to Budget for While Studying Abroad

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Once you have decided to study abroad, you probably already know about most of the costs associated with the experience and how you are going to pay for them. However, there are some costs associated with living in a foreign country of which you may be unaware.

Most credit cards charge a fee of two or three percent for every transaction you make in a foreign currency. While this isn’t a large percentage, it can add up surprisingly fast. Check with your credit card company before you leave to find out their policies concerning these fees. If you discover that you must pay them, include them in your budget. You may decide to refrain from using your credit card except in cases of emergency to save this money. How you will use your credit card is a decision best made before you arrive at your study abroad destination.

Youâ€™ll probably encounter fees similar to credit card fees when using ATM machines. Similarly, it will probably be a small fee of a few percentage points. To save this money, consider opening a bank account with a local bank while studying abroad. Not only will you save money on ATM fees, having a local bank is convenient and you may be thankful for if you are studying abroad for several months. If you have no plans to open an account while living abroad, ask your bank back home if they have any arrangements set up with foreign banks. If not, you could simply withdraw a certain amount of money once a month. Not only will this save you ATM fees, it’s a great way to learn to budget your money.

Studying abroad offers an education that extends far beyond the classroom. Educating yourself about money matters while abroad is a great example of a way you’ll learn to adapt to different ways of going about your day-to-day life.

Filed Under: International Credits Tagged With: Credit card, Education, Institute of International Education, International, Percentage, Student, Study abroad, United States

3 Tips for Studying Abroad

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While studying abroad is all about the classes and studying, itâ€™s also about immersing yourself into another culture and learning all that you can about it. Prepare before you go to get the most out of your experience.

Read all that you can about your destination. Read some current copies of the areaâ€™s local newspaper. This will help you become knowledgeable about the current affairs, both locally and nationally, of the area. You will enjoy your stay and be more comfortable if you are aware of the current affairs from the moment you arrive. There are also guidebooks and websites you can rely on to learn about the geography and culture of the area.

Travel while you are there. Of course your studies should come first, but if you afford to do so, plan to see some of the country in which you are living. Once you return home, it will be much harder and more expensive to go back to your study abroad destination, so see it while you can more easily do so. Itâ€™s probably a good idea to travel with friends rather than traveling alone. Not only is it safer, but youâ€™ll probably have more fun if you have people to share the experience with.

Immerse yourself in the culture. While this can be a little scary and intimidating, itâ€™s the only way to get the full experience of studying abroad. Observe how the locals live and attempt to live similarly. Not only will you learn more about the country, youâ€™ll show respect and appreciation for the culture. For example, pay attention to the style of dress. If people dress very conservatively when they are attending religious services, do the same.

By educating yourself about your study abroad destination both before you leave and while you are there, you will get the full study abroad experience while creating memories that will last a lifetime.

Filed Under: Foreign Exchange Programs Tagged With: Education, Experience, Foreign language, International, Newspaper, Student, Study abroad, United States

Traveling Abroad Doesn’t Mean Just Studying

Think about the term “traveling abroad.” What comes to mind? For the majority of people, the first thoughts that come to mind are those of going to school, learning a foreign language or taking part in boring classes all while living in a foreign country. That might have been what it used to be like 20 to 30 years ago but studying abroad has taken on a whole new meaning in recent years.

Colleges and universities and even online colleges, like onlineeducation.com, have jumped on the opportunity to offer a wide range of classes that vary from the traditional overseas study abroad courses. These unique course offerings have allowed students who wouldn’t have been excited about traveling overseas the chance to get inspired and try out some of these study abroad classes.

Here are some examples of the great courses that have been offered to students as a study abroad course.

Photography: Many schools offer the chance to learn photography and visit a foreign country. This allows students to take beautiful pictures as well as experience a foreign country at the same time.

Botany: There are many different varieties of plant life all over the globe. A study abroad course offers a great chance to be able to learn about plants and see another country all at the same time.

Astronomy: Depending on where you are located in the world you can see a wide range of different stars and plants. There are also certain meteor showers that are more visible from certain countries. This is a great way to get students to travel abroad and see their universe in a whole new light.

These are just some of the ways that studying abroad has changed over the years. Other courses can include psychology, medical studies, sociology and literature. No matter what the course, studying abroad will never be the same again.

Filed Under: Online Education Tagged With: Foreign language, Student, Study abroad

The Expericene of the Exchange Program

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While attending school you have heard of a program called, the Student Exchange Program, or better known as, Foreign Student Exchange. What is it exactly and how does it work?

A Student Exchange Program is when one school institution from one country, agrees to send student(s) to another institution in another country. For example, ABC School in Chicago, IL sets up the program with XYZ School in London, Paris, so that students from Paris can study abroad. This is done usually for exchange students to study in their field of interest.

The Student Exchange Program became popular after World War I. This was created to bring more awareness of others culture’s and lifestyles after to devastation the war left. It was also done to bring help to students who were in need of during that time period.

To qualify for the program, students must be between the ages of 15-18 and a half. Sometimes the program will allow for students 18-19 years old, to be involved in a work study program to make money. They must fill out applications for the program and pay the appropriate fees. Fees range depending on temporary health insurance, where the student is traveling, and for the length of time the student will stay in that country.

Participants can be set up with housing by staying with hosting family’s that agree to be part of the foreign program. This method is most popular with students that are from the age bracket of 15-17. Older students may choose to live on or off college campus; or stay at hotels arranged by the school. Some elect to live off campus because they want to have the full experience of their new culture surroundings.

Forty to fifty percent of exchange students say would recommend it to anyone who is interested in getting involved. It’s a great way to explore the world and get a different take on what they are studying to become.

Filed Under: Foreign Exchange Programs Tagged With: Education, International, London, Paris, Student, Student exchange program, Study abroad, United States

Study Abroad: Where to Begin

Studying abroad is an asset to any college student, no matter what their major. It allows students to have a better understanding of their own society while increasing their appreciation for other cultures, and it proves to future employers that the student is adaptable to new and challenging situations.

To begin the search for a study abroad program, a student needs to know what they want to study or where they want to study. Many students find a program that correlates with their major or minor, while others focus on a specific location and use the semester abroad to fulfill general education requirements.

The student should also talk with their university to see what programs students have studied abroad with before. Large universities can have dozens of study abroad programs that they fund and support on their own. Small schools do not have this luxury and so instead can pool their resources together with other universities to create better study abroad opportunities. The Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities is an example of this, as it consists of dozens of American private colleges and can now provide over a dozen study abroad experiences to their students. Many colleges also establish a connection with a university in a different country.

Once a student has decided on a program that fits their needs, they can begin fitting the semester into their schedule. The semester abroad does not have to hamper a student’s ability to graduate on time. By meeting with the school registrar, students can ensure that their classes will fulfill the requirements needed. However, if a student is concerned about graduating on time, they can certainly take online courses over the summer from elearners.com.

Whatever university a student attends and whatever their interest or major, there is a study abroad program that will fit their needs and allow them to experience a more rounded college education.

Filed Under: Online Education Tagged With: Student, Study abroad, United States

The Perks to Study Abroad

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If students are interested in studying abroad, there are many opportunities to do so. Studying abroad has many pluses to improve the way a student or adult learns and to broaden their horizons!

This method of education is very similarly to being a foreign exchange student. Individuals have the opportunity to travel to another country to study their major in dept or to learn a new language. However, many who are close to graduating from a university or college take this opportunity. Unlike with the foreign exchange program, it is geared more toward teens. This area of study can be anywhere between a few weeks to several years. It is up to the student to how much they want to invest into their education and for how long. Most students stay longer in other countries if they are learning a new language or history.

There are different providers that are available to those who wish to study abroad. This can be organizations that include, but not limited to:

Â· Government Sponsored Program; i.e., Belgian American Educational Foundation
Â· Colleges or Universities / Consortium (Colleges and Universities that work together)
Â· Third Party Associations in other counties that work with organization in third world countries.

When applying, it is for the student to find out all details that will best fit their needs in terms of where they are traveling and for the length of time. Funding also plays a factor for paying tuition and living expenses.

When you study abroad, it gives you the opportunity to challenge yourself to find out how others live and to invest in your future. Almost all who have studied abroad have found it to be a better to learning experience because you go beyond the text books! If you teach classes, you can take that same experience and instill it into the students!

Filed Under: Traveling Abroad Tagged With: Education, Foreign language, Government, International, International Student Exchange, Student, Study abroad, United States

Living With a Host Family While Studying Abroad

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Many students studying abroad choose to live with a host family. The chance to actually reside with a family and experience their culture first-hand is an experience many cannot pass up. As a foreign exchange student, you have the unique opportunity to interact with members of the country in which you are studying on a daily basis. You may never have the chance to experience this again, so living with a host family may be a wise decision as you plan your study abroad experience.

Host families provide room, board and priceless insight into the culture of the region in which you are studying. Not only will you be fully immersed in the language, you will learn first-hand how food is prepared and shared and the ways families interact, while forming a relationship that could last a lifetime.

Host families volunteer to host students, so there is no need to feel as though you are imposing. They want you to be there. Many students don’t realize that not only will they be learning from the host family, but the family will be learning from them, as well. You will be in the unique situation to help others understand more about your culture, just as you are learning about theirs.

Exchange students and the host families are screened before being assigned to a family or student. Different countries and exchange programs may have different criteria for the screening process, so you probably want to look into how families are screened as you make your decision. You will enjoy your experience more if you are completely comfortable and aware of how decisions are made regarding student placement with their host families.

Living with a host family while studying abroad is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that can never be replicated. The bonds you will form and the lessons you’ll learn will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Filed Under: Traveling Abroad Tagged With: Education, Experience, Foreign language, International, International Student Exchange, Student, Study abroad, United States

Online College Allows Students to Learn and Travel

It used to be that if a student wished to travel overseas they had to make the difficult decision to either forgo college for a semester or year and travel abroad or take part in the assigned college’s study abroad program. In recent years that has all changed for college students.

With the recent popularity of online college programs, like earnmydegree.com, a college student now has the ability to travel wherever and whenever they want without worrying about what they will do for college courses.

Online colleges provide a flexibility of allowing students to take their classes while not actually having to physical be at the location of the college. That means that if a student wished to take college classes while they were in Europe or India they would be able to. All they would have to do is sign up for the online program for their chosen degree and enroll as if they were any other student.

Many online college classes do not require that the student attend real time lectures but instead take part in a virtual classroom in the form of a forum. This allows students to take part no matter what time zone they are in because they can simply download the lectures, watch from the country they are in and discuss the lectures online with other students. It is a good idea if you are considering this course of action for college to inquire with the school if class attendance is required.

It’s amazing how much the the Internet has advanced technology and education. Only 10 years ago, college students were faced with the unique possibility of being able to take classes at satellite campuses. Now students have the ability to earn a degree online while also traveling and seeing the world at the same time. Don’t let the world pass you by, consider getting your degree and traveling overseas.

Filed Under: International Credits, Online Education, Specialty Studies Tagged With: India, Student, Study abroad