Students who are able to go abroad to study are fortunate because they will definitely have an experience that can change their lives forever. The advantages and benefits of studying abroad to one’s education and career are substantial. A year or more spent abroad to study is an advantage worth more than the money you’ll spend on tuition and lodging. You will be learning a new culture, immersing in a lifestyle different from your own, learning a new language, and building a global network of friends.

In the November 2018 Open Doors Report released by the Institute of International Education (IIE), over 330,000 students in the U.S. studied outside the country for college credits during the school year 2016 to 2017. Since the 1990s, the number of American students studying abroad has continued to grow. Over one million international college students were studying in the U.S. in 2017 to 2018.

Studying abroad is increasingly essential today. And people will notice the positive changes in you when you return. If you are thinking of spending some time abroad for college credits, here are some of the essential benefits.

1. It will improve your language skills

You will have many chances to sharpen your language skills through your daily interaction with native speakers. It is something that you cannot duplicate in language classes. It is possible to learn the language quicker. Moreover, you’ll be picking up local jargon and learning better pronunciation by listening to how locals do it.

2. You’ll adapt to different teaching styles

The style of teaching varies depending on the country. You can adapt to different academic settings when you study abroad. Learning how to adapt can be helpful at work because you will be more versatile.

3. You’ll be more self-confident 

You’ll learn life skills that you might not know when you’re constantly surrounded by familiar things, such as your family and friends, and other things that you are used to seeing. You’ll learn to be independent as well.

As you overcome the challenges of living abroad on your own, your maturity will improve as you encounter unexpected conditions. Your communication skills get a boost as you converse in another language. You’ll learn to adjust and adapt to the new culture, and become more tolerant. These qualities are applicable in the workplace. You’ll become resilient and self-reliant, as you have to do everything by yourself.

You’ll be able to develop strong management, leadership and critical thinking skills. Your communication skills will likewise improve as you learn to negotiate and speak in public in another language.

4. You’ll build international connections

You are going to meet other international students at a foreign university, so your global connections will likely increase. They can become your friends for life. Some of them could be instrumental to several career opportunities, such as job offers or internships. You might even become business partners in the future.

5. You’ll increase your cultural awareness

Meeting other international students will broaden your knowledge of different cultures – the way they act, view things, think, learn, dress, talk, eat, and so on. You will see their traditions and cultural practices, helping you adjust to their different personality and attitude. You’ll be more accepting of people from different cultural backgrounds and share their experiences. Studying abroad broadens your mind and widens your horizon.

6. You’ll learn to value little things

When you stay at home, you might feel annoyed by the mundane and the routine. Everything is the same, and you might wonder what is unique about your country and the way you live. While studying abroad, you will learn to manage your budget and rely on yourself. You’ll witness other students’ struggle with adapting to a new environment and way of living, not to mention, struggle with finances. You’ll realize that things are easier back home.

7. You can travel and see more of the world 

Traveling and seeing more of the world is one of the core benefits of studying abroad. It enables you to visit another country and have the chance to see other places, within the country itself or the regions surrounding the country where you are studying. Your local friends can show you the beauty of their country and fantastic locales that other tourists either do not know or do not frequent.

Check out the study abroad program in your college or university. If you qualify, get ready for a once-in-a-lifetime chance that is too good to miss. Likewise, prepare your academic and other documents, so you’ll know if you need transcript translation services.

About the Author:

Sean Patrick Hopwood, CEO and Founder of Day Translations, a language translation services provider, that serves clients in a wide range of industries including education, finance, and government.

 

Studying abroad shouldn’t be all that hard, you say to yourself. You’ve consulted with counselors who’ve given you plenty of answers, you’ve read up on all the brochures and program descriptions, you’ve studied program reviews from previous students and talked to study abroad alumni.

Although you can logically say to yourself that “you’re ready,” there still may be a tiny voice inside of you that is saying, “do you really?” The truth is, a lot will transpire during your study abroad trip. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are five things you need to know before you start a new stage of your life anew as a study abroad student.

Buy Your Ticket in Advance

Your parents have probably been bugging you to purchase your plane ticket six or more months before you start your study abroad experience. While they’re aiming to give you peace of mind, buying a ticket   that much in advance isn’t the most economical decision. In fact, the best time to buy your ticket is in the three month range before your departure – this is when prices are at their lowest.

The plane trip to the country of your destination is when your adventure begins. Spring for either an aisle or window seat (depending on how close you want to be to the bathroom), watch movies galore on your personal TV screen and enjoy the not-so-bad plane food. Be excited!

Travel tip: Get instant notifications on low flight prices when you set up travel alerts on Airfare Watchdog or Kayak.com.

Choosing Your Place of Residence

The study abroad program you signed up for will surely give you a choice as to where you could stay, anywhere from a dorm on a college campus to a shared apartment to a home stay. While you’ll have your pick of options, there is no right or wrong decision when choosing lodgings for your study abroad experience.

This said, if you’re looking to have the most immersive, fascinating experience possible, we highly recommend you push yourself out of your comfort zone and find lodgings that allows you to live with foreigners. Mingling with foreigners on a daily basis is a truly rewarding experience, and choosing instead to live in an isolated manner would just diminish your opportunities to know the culture better.

Travel tip: Talk your options over with your counselor months before you leave and pick the type of residence that is best suited to the experience you are looking for.

Cultural Sensitivity

You are responsible for your behavior when you are abroad for your studies. As you will be immersed in another culture and society, it is important that you take into account the local customs. This will influence the way you interact with local people, how you speak and the way you dress.

Your behavior, unbeknownst to you, may offend locals unnecessarily and invite bad treatment of not only yourself, but of the group of people you are traveling with. It’s important for visitors to practice cultural sensitivity throughout their trip.

Travel Tip: Learning how to carry on simple conversation in the local language will do a lot to surprise and please the locals. They’ll be much more open to you in appreciation of your efforts, which will enable them to help you more.

Bring Good Walking Shoes

If you come from a culture where driving is the norm, like the United States, you may forget to take your trusty walking shoes to your study abroad destination.

The fact of the matter is, many countries are typically walking societies. You’ll be on your feet a lot longer than usual in these parts of the world, which is the idea if you are looking to take in all the cute little off-street spots of your study abroad destination. While high heels are fashionable, you simply won’t be able to cope with them along long city blocks or cobblestone streets. Spare your feet, lower back and general sanity by being sure to bring along a reliable pair of walking shoes.

Travel Tip: There’s no trade-off between style and comfort when it comes to shoes. Find shoes that are padded and durable yet stylish so that you can wear them during the day and night in your study abroad destination.

Your Toiletries Can Be Purchased Abroad

 

It’s best to pack as light as possible when traveling across the world. Consider ditching your mainstay cologne for a new scent abroad. It will not be hard to find shampoos, soaps, make-up, laundry detergent, contact solution and other replacement toiletries abroad. However, if you’re the type who has a love for certain cosmetic brands, then spoil yourself and stock up on your precious brand name items for your journey.

Your mom and dad might be happy to spoil you in this regard and buy your essentials for you – this is a perk. However, the perk for buying your toiletries abroad is that some of these products might be considerably cheaper abroad. It’s your choice.

Travel Tip: Young women may have a problem finding quality feminine products abroad and should think of stocking up for the entire length of their stay overseas.

Guest Post by Sean Hopwood

 

Sean Hopwood, MBA is founder and President of Day Translations, Inc., an online translation services provider, dedicated to the improvement of global communications. By helping both corporations and the individual, Day Translations provides a necessary service at the same time as developing opportunities for greater sympathy and understanding worldwide.