Studying abroad while in college is regarded as a life-changing experience, both personally and academically, for program participants. By electing to go abroad, students enhance their worldly perspective, gain a more in-depth understanding of other cultures, participate in language immersion, and expand their maturity levels. While the popularity of international education continues to grow, the call for evidentiary support proving positive learning outcomes is a major aspect of today’s higher education. The call for a higher level of transparency assessing these learning outcomes results in an increase in topic-specific research related to international education. The true effectiveness of specific programs is now under constant scrutiny (Gray, Murdock, & Stebbins, 2002).
Research concentrating on the effects and educational outcomes of studying abroad claims numerous positive end results. Specifically, the areas of cognitive, affective, and cultural development have seen positive trends in regards to international education (Hadis, 2005). According to Ryan & Twibell, students who studied abroad had measurable growth and learning outside of the classroom (2000), while Carlson & Widaman found studying abroad to correlate with enhanced international perspectives, political concerns on a global scale, and cross-cultural interests (1988). Upon their return, American alumni of study abroad programs continuously report that their identities as American have been reformed in both positive and vital ways (Carlson & Widaman, 1988).
In regard to the expectations and demographic information pertaining to study abroad program participants, Goldstein and Kim’s 2006 longitudinal study identified variable to predict future program partici...
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...of Higher Education, Vol. 47, No. 2 (Mar. - Apr., 1976), 191-203.
National Survey of Student Engagement (2007). Experience that matter: enhancing student learning and success. Annual Report 2007. Center for Postsecondary Research: Bloomington, IN.
Ryan, M.R., Twibell, R.S. (2000). Concerns, values, stress, coping, health and educational outcomes of college students who studied abroad. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, Volume 24, Issue 4, 1 July 2000, Pages 409-435, ISSN 0147-1767, doi: 10.1016/S0147-1767(00)00014-6.
Spiering, K., Erickson, S. (2006). Study abroad as innovation: Applying the diffusion model to international education. International Education Journal, 7 (3), 314-322.
Wilkinson, S. (1994). On the nature of immersion during study abroad: some participant perspectives. Frontiers Journal, 4, 1-18.
Ben Feinberg wrote What Students Don’t Learn Abroad about how students will go to other countries, but when they are asked “what they learned” (Feinberg 1) they answer by saying things like, “I became a risk-taker, or I can do anything I put my mind to” (Feinberg 1-2), but they do not share anything about what the other country was like, instead they talk about how the trip changed them, or taught them something about themselves that they did not already know.
Anderson University stands out from other universities in many ways, with one of the reasons being Anderson’s travel and cultural opportunities. Traveling is an integral part of the learning process. Living or spending time in another country takes a student outside of their realm, literally and emotionally. They are forced into flexibility. The popular term “culture shock” is named that way for a reason. Students can also stretch their worldly knowledge through campus cultural events. While most colleges offer study-abroad options for their students, Anderson students can study-abroad, sign up for a Tri-S trip, or attend campus events if they desire to learn about cultures. Anderson University offers these possibilities to its students, but
A sojourner is often described as a short term visitor to a new place or culture, where permanent settlement is not the eventual purpose of the trip or sojourn. Bearing this in mind the term sojourner has been applied to many different groups throughout the years; military personnel, aid workers and students or scholars all fall under this broad umbrella term. In the literature concerning students there is some confusion, as various researchers have failed to make the distinction between ‘International Students’ and ‘Student Sojourners’. The term ‘International Student’ , particularly with respect to American, Australian and Asian research,is often used to describe students that have roots in a minority group (such as Asians or Latino Americans) but have actually been born in the ‘host country’. These students are usually resident in the host country for the duration on their academic program and longer. ‘Student Sojourner’ on the other hand is a term that describes students who may move to a new place or culture for the purpose of academic ad...
Every year, more and more International students are coming to the U.S. for pursuing higher education. According to the Open Doors report published annually by the Institute of International Education (IIE), the number of intern...
As global citizens, whatever happens to one happens to us all; as such, we should avoid isolating ourselves. Aware of the many paths to choose from in this field, including non-profits and think tanks, I will seek to pursue work for an international organization like United Nations to help it gain more access of knowledge from the most prestige minds in the world. At Tennessee Tech University, my undergraduate program should be described as rewarding and fruitful. Working at the International Education Office at TTU for the past two years has helped me develop the notion of respect for other cultures and traditions more since we receive multinational students and scholars quarterly. Furthermore, many of the international students I have met have become my friends for
American students have been such a question mark for the international students, their way of living and thinking is way different than any international student and this is noticeable. Students from all over the world notice a difficulty in dealing with the Americans and mentally understand them. Therefore, Rebekah Nathan argues that in her article “As Other See Us” and discusses the differences between the American and the international students. Moreover, she uses different evidence based on students from different backgrounds and cultures. Nathan goes over opinions and stories that happens with the international students in the US and what they think about these situation, which they considers weird in the eyes of the international students.
The importance of college student life and involvement as it pertains to student success and retention in college
In “Satellite Campuses Don’t Provide a True Study Abroad Experience,” Stacie Berdan took a great stand on whether or not global satellite universities help American education. Berdan voiced her opinion on how a student at a satellite school wouldn’t get the same experience as someone studying abroad in the country. Though the students that attend the satellite universities are living in a different country, they are still apart of the U.S. education system. American professors, who add international elements to their curriculum, typically teach the courses, allowing the experience to be less international than studying abroad. Berdan believes that in order to fully immerse in another culture, students shouldn’t take classes offered in their home country and taught by local
American students have been such a question mark for the international students, their way of living and thinking is way different than any international student and this is noticeable among the international students. Students from all over the world notice a difficulty in dealing with the Americans and mentally understand them. Therefore, Rebekah Nathan argues that in her article “As Other See Us” and discusses the differences between the American and the international students. Moreover, she uses one evidence based on students from different backgrounds and cultures. Nathan goes over opinions, situations and stories that happen to the international students in the US and what they think about these situations, which they consider weird in the eyes of the international students.
Coming to the United States for college can introduce cultural differences that even the most prepared students might not anticipate. From campus life to classroom etiquette, US school can be quite a different experience from learning in other countries around the world. It is rather natural for students from other countries to join communities that somehow remind them of home and give them the opportunity to remain connected with their roots and at the same time bring the world a little closer to fellow classmates. By raising collective cultural awareness, organized expressions of diversity which create a cultural spillover from which we all benefit.
I believe that enrichment is an important part of the college experience. Beyond academics, personal growth and intellectual development outside of the classroom are also key components of the college years. In my opinion, study abroad is a great opportunity that can enhance my UW life and help me to gain different perspectives.
"Maximizing Study Abroad." The Center for Advanced Research on Language Acquisition (CARLA). University of Minnesota, 21 July 2010. Web. 07 Oct. 2011. .
Studying abroad can be one of the most rewarding experiences in a college’s students career. For many colleges, having their students can mean an increase in tuition, higher application rates, and overall better reviews by their students. According to the Indianapolis Business Journal, by Scott Olsen, “The Wall Street Journal reported last month that several small colleges are requiring students to pay full tuition even if the programs cost less, setting caps on the amount of financial aid sent abroad, and limiting how many students can participate”(5). Also, Olsen tells us “In the 2003-2004 school year, 7,208 students from Indiana universities went on study-abroad programs, according to the most recent statistics available from the Institute
The credit that I would fulfill doing this abroad program, an advanced Western Tradition, fits perfectly in my schedule and will help me be one step closer to my early graduation. Most obviously, studying abroad will also benefit my education by giving me a wider-range of knowledge. I will get the chance to talk to numerous people of different backgrounds, hearing what they have done in their life and how they got where they are.
I always want to be an international student because I believe that learning in different surroundings will offer me a chance to explore the world. In order to become one, I have been preparing myself for this upcoming challenge. Long years of studying and paying most of my attention to school work made me wonder whether it is worthwhile to spend so much time on textbooks and became curious about what it is like to study in another country. In 2011, I seized the opportunity provided by my senior high school and became an exchange student in the U.S. . I didn’t fit in perfectly in the beginning, but throughout my exchange year, I had learned to adapt m...