Studying Abroad
Given the current interconnected global world, it is not surprising that studying abroad has increased. Choosing a university destination in another has become popular. Students from developing nations and Europe move abroad to study as part of their degree. Study abroad participation rates have over tripled in the last two decades, with around 289,408 students taking part in 2012 -2013. Studying abroad is, therefore, a global phenomenon with thousands of students crossing oceans, continents and countries to access the best possible education. Studying in another linguistic, geographic, or cultural context offers a significant wealth of potential areas for research. In response to stakeholder interests of teaching and preparing individuals with a world perspective for careers in the contemporary globalized world, universities are increasing educational programs for international students. The majority of the people place a greater emphasis on study abroad. Due to this belief, several American universities have added international education as a requirement to solve global competence priority. While studying abroad is associated with high cost and culture shock, its benefits outweigh the challenges making it the best option for students seeking education.
There is a high number of international students studying in the U.S. There were round 290,000 students surveyed in the United States during the 2014-2015 academic year (Vernon, Chris and Holly 1). This statistic was up around 150% that of the last 10 years. Further, up to 63% of first-year students report intent to study abroad. However, only 14.6% of students study abroad, and this represents 1% of students in American colleges. Several Chinese, European, Asian and African students move to the U.K., U.K., U.S.stralia and Canada to access quality education. If students get adequate funds to cater for their living expenses and cover their tuition costs, they opt to study abroad. Studying abroad is beneficial not just to international students but also to domestic students and institutions.
Studying abroad improves new language learning. When one moves from their home nation to a host nation, they have to learn the host language to integrate well in their society. Similarly, they have to learn the language of instruction used in the school. A Pew Research Center study conducted in America showed that only 25% of U.S. students could speak another language apart from English. Further, only 7% of them learned the new language in school instead of their childhood homes (NAFSA Organization 1). This data shows that most Americans are less likely to learn a new language domestically than abroad. Studying abroad grants one the opportunity to study a foreign language (Homden 1). One immerses him/herself in a new language, and there is no other better way to learn than to dive straight in. Besides, the new host university offers language courses that allow you to gain a formal education. With continuous practice, a student learns a new language, thereby improving their competency.
The majority of international schools/universities offer the best quality of education. Studying abroad, therefore, gives you better learning opportunities. When studying in such institutions, a student broadens their mind, expands their knowledge, and learns new skills. Host institutions often offer several programs that you can choose. Australia, USA and the U.K. hU.K.e the best higher education systems and a large percentage of the globe’s highest-ranking universities are in these nations (Homden 1). These institutions also integrate technology into their higher education system, making learning easy for the students. In the process, students learn technical skills which are essential for their future career. When you enrol in these institutions, you have a better chance of achieving academic success as you access the best education programs. Students are taught by well-trained, skilled and diverse faculty who impart not only knowledge but also skills on the students. Teachers also organize class discussions and projects where students interact with one another, sharing their knowledge and skills on specific subjects. In addition to the classwork, students are exposed to practical situations as they are required to apply for an internship in different organizations. As they work in organizations, they apply the knowledge learnt in class while also gaining further knowledge and skills. Students from these higher learning institutions are highly likely to access more career opportunities due to the quality of education that they receive.
Study abroad encourages intercultural understanding, thus providing a global context. Students immerse themselves in a new culture and improve their cultural competency. A study done on this subject topic showed that students who get back from their study abroad program are often less fearful and more tolerant of other countries (NAFSA Organization 1). They are not afraid to visit new nations and immerse in their cultures because they have learned how to belong. Further, immersing yourself in a different environment is a rich experience as it enables you to meet new people, see things in a way that you would not expect. One learns new things such as traditional music, fresh foods, clothing and anything the host nation has to offer (Homden 1). This way, you learn more about your home country and yourself. You may find that there are some foods that you can eat yet thought you could not before. With such cultural competency, one can comfortably work in different geographic or cultural contexts. Besides, domestic students benefit from having international students in their country. These students enrich the educational climate for the local students (Alghamdi & Suzanne 17). They learn how to interact with people other cultures from the international students as well as how to be tolerant of different cultures. A survey done in Australia by the Australian Federal Government showed that around 86% of all the international students involved in the study were satisfied with their experience of studying and living in Australia (Alghamdi & Suzanne 18). That said, studying abroad is beneficial to students.
The cost of studying abroad is expensive, from everyday living to the courses. Tuition costs for international students in the U.K. iU.K.more than 10,000 Euros annually. The tuition costs in the U.K. aU.K. higher than that of the other developed nations. Further, in countries such as the United States, Canada, and Australia, an international student must show proof of adequate funds when applying for a visa. They must have sufficient funds to cover the tuition costs and living experiences for a whole academic year. Without such financial proof, a student cannot get a visa and study in the host university. The costs are still high when the students move to the host nations (Vernon, Chris and Holly 2). Even if some of the students wanted to work to support themselves, they cannot because they have limited opportunities with their student visa. For instance, Australian international students have limited work rights and knowledge about their rights in workplaces (Alghamdi & Suzanne 19). As such, these students suffer serious welfare issues as they cannot raise enough funds to cover their living and education expenses. There are some places where international students do not have tickets for free transportation. They, therefore, have to go deep into their pockets to pay for their transportation if they do not have accommodation on the campus. If one cannot manage to pay for the tuition costs and the expenses, they end up dropping out of school and going back to their home country.
Even if you have thoroughly researched a place, your stay can still be challenging. The majority of international students often suffer severe culture shock, which impacts their ability to focus on their studies and complete school. Moving to a new place, you will experience challenges such as new languages, social issues, and food that are frustrating. When a student does not understand the host language, they cannot participate in leisure and social activities. Students are, therefore, alienated from their peers as they suffer from depression. The first-year international students in host universities often experience challenges as they suffer from a culture shock (Alghamdi & Suzanne 18). They are not only unable to effectively communicate with other students due to the language barrier, but also experience discrimination from the locals. The majority of the students often report being targeted/discriminated against by locals who have a negative image of foreigners. As such, studying abroad is associated with severe adverse outcomes such as culture shock which impact a student’s ability to study.
Nevertheless, my point still stands that it is better to study abroad. Currently, several Chinese students are studying in the United States. According to the U.S.U.S.titute of International Education 2013-2014 survey, there were around 274,439 Chinese students (Alghamdi & Suzanne 17). While in the period 1972 – 1973, there were approximately 146,000 students in the U.S., in 2015, there were 974,926 international students (Alghamdi & Suzanne 16). From these statistics, it is clear that the number of international students moving to the United States to complete their studies is increasing rapidly. This number is growing due to the benefits associated with studying abroad. Students do not only access quality education, but also learn new languages as they immerse themselves in a new culture. Overall, studying abroad is beneficial to international and domestic students.
In conclusion, studying abroad has become a global phenomenon due to its several benefits. International students benefit from studying and living in the host nations as they access quality education, learn new cultures and languages. They improve their intercultural competence as they learn about new cultures from their host nations. These intercultural skills are relevant in their future career and global workplaces. Sadly, they struggle with some issues as integrate into their new learning environments. International students experience culture shock and are burdened by high education and living costs. To reduce these difficulties, relevant bodies such as policymakers, counsellors and schools can expend effort to address foreign student needs. They can increase access to quality work, offer language support and facilitate social integration. Further, with proper planning and increased awareness, international students can manage to survive in the host nations as they study. That said, studying abroad is better than doing so domestically.