Why You Should Think About Participating In Study Abroad Summer Excursions
The time you spend at your university should not only teach you the skills you need when job-seeking, but it should enrich your knowledge of different cultures. Sure, taking courses on Greek Art and Architecture, Brazilian Cuisine and Customs, or The Social History of China is a great way to learn about various countries, but what about participating in a study abroad summer program? Summer is a time for adventure; it’s a time for trying new things. The following breaks down some great reasons why you should consider traveling abroad to enhance your college education during the summer months.
You have the opportunity to leave your city and see the world! Think about it, though: so many people live their entire lives in one large city or one small town. They either don’t have the funds to travel or are uninterested in it. People who never travel miss out on growth opportunities. For people who do take the chance and run with it, summer can be the perfect time to go. It can give you a taste of being abroad without being overwhelming, and it fits right into your schedule without disrupting your other classes. If you have the chance, you should definitely give it a try.
Summer can be the perfect time to do a language study abroad program. Is the foreign language requirement of your school weighing you down? Have you been avoiding taking that Italian or Chinese class? During a language study abroad program, you’ll take about four hours of language classes a day, and then have the rest of the time (excluding studying, of course) to travel around your host country. Some programs make plans for excursions and other activities as well to make sure you you get the most out of your time abroad. Even though your focus may be on having fun, you’ll still make amazing progress in your language studies during your trip. Using the language in your everyday activities really does make all the difference.
You can meet new people. In today’s competitive economy, who doesn’t want the opportunity to drastically broaden one’s social network? Not only will you likely grow close to the people in your program (you will be spending hours a day with them, after all), but you will also get to meet people from many other countries as well as your host country. A lot of students like to gather at certain clubs and coffee shops, and this will give you an opportunity to build new friendships.
You will expand your understanding of people’s viewpoints. People who live in other countries have different religious, moral, and social values. Ways of communicating varies from place to place. In some places, like Russia, it’s important to be very direct, while in others, such as South Korea, it’s important not to be too bold. Perhaps you will learn that some people have different customs dependent upon the seasons. No matter where you are from, you will learn how to better appreciate other countries’ differences by studying abroad.
If you have ever considered studying overseas but are hesitant about actually trying it, a summer study abroad program is a good choice for you. You’ll have a chance to experience a new culture, travel around a new place, and perhaps make a lot of progress in learning a new language, but you won’t be away from friends and family for too long, nor will it interfere with your regular classes. Just keep in mind that different countries experience warm weather at different times of the year. For example, Chile’s winter is during June, July and August. It’s much warmer in December and January, which is the opposite of someone living in the United States. So, if you are looking to study somewhere warm, you might choose a country like Costa Rica that is tropical all year long—as long as the program their meets your needs. However, if summer is just a convenient time for you to travel, just choose a place that interests you and you will have a study abroad summer program that you will never forget!