Studying Abroad: A New Experience and Learning Opportunity, Study Guides, Projects, Research of Education Planning And Management

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MAKE THE MOST

OF STUDYING

ABROAD

Published by

Why choose this eBook?

This eBook is dedicated to all the students that have decided or are thinking about going to study abroad, turning to those who have decided to undertake this fantastic adventure. Studying in a foreign country is an experience that all should have at least once in their life as it allows them to find themselves in a completely new situation and to im- merse themselves into a completely new way of life from the one in their own country. Furthermore, being an experience that you will experience alone, a long way away from parents and things you hold dear, it will help you to grow up and take charge of your own limits and learn to affront them in the best of ways. You will learn a foreign language more quickly than usual and we can assure you that speaking every day with the locals and understanding their expressions and sayings will, in the long run be far more useful than hours spent poring over books. What can we say about the fun enjoyed with new friends? In foreign schools you’ll get to know people of many different nationalities with cultures and habits different to your own. If at the beginning it all seems rather alien and you feel disorientated and nostalgic, don’t worry as this will soon pass and this experience will become a real eye opener! Don’t forget the advantage this experience could bring to you in future job interviews. Do you know how many companies want people that speak other lan- guages? So, hitch your backpack on your shoulder (or perhaps a pull along case would be better), eBook in hand and off you go…

Have a

good trip!

What is Docsity? Why choose this eBook? Chapter 1 – Why study abroad?

• 10 good reasons to study abroad Chapter 2 – The 3 most frequently asked questions
• Where? When? For how long? Chapter 3 – What to do before leaving?
• If you decide to opt for this experience don’t forget to…
• Speak to other students: things to do before leaving
• Speak to other students: things not to do before leaving Info graphics: the 10 most important things you need to get before lea- ving Chapter 4 – Welcome to your new city!
• Countries and their own customs!
• Speaking with other students: what to do upon your arrival
• Speaking with other students: what not to do upon your arrival Info graphics: the 10 most important things to do in your new city Chapter 5 – How to get the most out of your time spent stu- dying abroad
• Myths and legends about studying abroad
• What do you expect from this experience?
• What do people there expect of you?
• What do you expect from people?
• What does your new university expect from you?
• What do you expect from your new university? Info graphics: the 10 Commandments for being a student abroad

Make the most of studying abroad

CHAPTER 1

Why study abroad?

You like the idea of studying abroad but you’re not totally convinced? Try speaking with those who already have studied abroad and you’ll find that all the answers to your questions will be positive and they’ll all assure you that it is an ama- zing opportunity that will change your life and will extend your cultural knowledge as well.

10 reasons to study abroad

1. To learn a new language There is nowhere better to way to learn a new language than in the country whe- re it is spoken. Once there, you’ll realise just how easy it is to learn when you are immersed in it, listening to and speaking with the locals every day.
2. Make new friends from around the world Studying abroad, you’ll immerse yourself within a new culture and get to know a lot of other foreigners who are there for the same reasons that you are, far from home and also looking for new friends. This situation is an ideal one for making new friends and building new emotional bonds.
3. Broaden your horizons You will learn many new and interesting things that you wouldn’t have learnt had you stayed at home. When you do return home you’ll realize that you now see the world with new eyes and from perspecti- ves that you never even knew existed.
   4. An opportunity to learn about different cultures When you talk about cultural differences, it doesn’t just refer to the language or food, but everything that cannot be per- ceived at a glance and is learnt only by living in a place. Watching the TV, rea- ding newspapers, frequenting the locals and general day to day living will show you the true cultural differences with your home country.
   5. An opportunity to get to know yourself better Living alone or at least in a foreign coun- try will make you grow up and widen your knowledge and your ways of looking at things. You will become independent and autonomous. And when you return home home, you will be more aware of yourself and your potentials and you will see the world in a different light.

CHAPTER 2

The 3 most frequently asked que-

stions: When? Where? For how long?

When? You can study abroad whenever is best for you. It’s depends on your needs along with the requisites and requirements of your university course. The most common options are:

1. During your second year You’ve already been studying for a whi- le, you know the university dynamics well and this could be a good time to take a break.
2. During your last year Sometimes it is actually the university that advises you to study abroad before finishing your degree. It could be a good experience especial- ly if you don’t have many more exams to face, meaning you can enjoy your time without worrying about them.
   3. To write your thesis abroad Why not write your thesis abroad? Perhaps whilst studying and doing some form of work experience. Remember not to venture too far away from home as you’ll more than likely have to visit home a few times during your stay to deal with the winding up of your de- gree. Where? You don’t know which country to choo- se? Give priority to languages that could be of use to you in the future. You may olso choose the country on the following basis:

• Quality of life
• Quality of food
• Relationships with people from the area
• Not too high living costs

If you have to start back at university then you should keep with the timeframe of your degree. Most people tend to go for a stay of between 3 to 6 months, that can then be prolon- ged for another 6 months. It all depends on your university and your host university. For how long?

When the time arrives for you to get ready for your imminent departure, panic sets in. Try not to forget things that could make the difference between making the most of this experience right from the beginning and starting off on the wrong foot.

If you want to make the most of

this experience you shouldn’t forget to….

1. Have filled in all the necessary pa- perwork for both your university and your host university, bought study abroad in- surance, checked the expiry date of your passport or id card (if you have one) and have opened a bank or post office ac- count so that you can withdraw and pay in money with ease.
2. Have done in depth research into the country you are going to; the culture, cu- stoms, language, transport, money, crime level and how safe it is, health service, shops, phone networks and internet con- nection (both free and paid), weather, po- litical and social climate, religion, history et cetera. As the ancient Romans said: ‘When in Rome do as the Romans do’ 3. Pack well. Make a list of all the thin- gs that you will need and before packing them, put them all on your bed and try to work out if you are missing anything and how to best fit everything into your case without taking up too much space. 4. Only take with you things that are ab- solutely necessary and avoid things that you can buy once you are there. This way you will save space in your case for more indispensable things.

5. If you require specific medication then it is best to pack them first, especially if you’re not sure if you can find them in the country where you are going. Remember to take with you your prescription with the main ingredients of the medicine mentio- ned on it as it could be that the medicine can be found in the country you are going to has a different name.
6. Also, don’t forget to organise a farewell party with your friends before you leave so that you can say goodbye to everyone. If you’re not on good terms with your pa- rents or loved one, try and at least give them a call before you leave (you never know…). Most of all, if you want to tell someone exactly what you think of them, now’s the time!!! Other than this fundamental advice we’d like to offer you an insight from some stu- dents that we interviewed about the thin- gs they did and didn’t need before leaving and the outcome.

SPEAKING

WITH OTHER

STUDENTS

What to do

before leaving!

1. “Get waxed (you never know...)’”(Patrycja)
2. “Tell your parents not to call you every 5 minutes” (Luisa)
3. “Learn to cook and clean. Rather useful.” (Corrado)
4. “Organise a great party with your friends.’’ (Andrea)
5. “Watch ‘how to iron’ video’s on YouTube’’ (Katherine)
6. “Ask all your friends for their Skype addresses so that you can video call them.’’ (Lea)
7. “Stay calm! You’re only moving to a different country, not going into space!’’ (Hi- sham)
8. “Make sure you have all your documents in order. You don’t want to find out that you id card/passport has expired when you go to catch the plane.’’ (Naachiz)
9. “If you intend to deprive yourself of nothing then it is probably best to leave the person you are with to avoid the hassle or problems that could arise, both for yourself and for them.’’ (Antonio)
10. “Organise a good dinner and eat everything that you won’t be able to get where you are going and will miss.’’ (Serena)

CHAPTER 4

Welcome to your new city!

Countries and their own customs! Once you have arrived in your new country, remember that you will have to accept and respect customs and traditions different to your own. Adapting yourself to a new culture isn’t always easy but is not impossible! You will live through the Cultural Shock as claimed by sociologist D.H Brown in 1986, so prepare to live through the following 4 phases:

1. The honeymoon phase The initial period where everything is new and exciting. The cultural differences seem fantastic and you’ll feel yourself on top of the world. It lasts for a couple of weeks and then phases out.
2. The hostility phase The cultural differences start to weigh you down a little. Youb are homesick and feel lost. Don’t worry, this passes quickly and will bring you to…
3. The adjustment phase You’ll start getting used to the new customs. You’ll know how to manage things and finally you’ll pass into…
4. The integration phase You’ll be 100% integrated and you’ll have no problem behaving yourself and living as the locals do.

SPEAKING

WITH OTHER

STUDENTS

What NOT to

do upon arrival

1. “Be careful with your documents and money. What would you do if you lose them?’’ (Patrycja)
2. “Don’t spend all of your money straight away. Remember that you are going to be there for a while.’’ (Luisa)
3. “Don’t get off to a bad start with your flat mates. You run the risk of isolating your- self.’’ (Corrado)
4. “Don’t criticise the people you know. Even if they do things in a different way, it doesn’t mean that their way is the wrong way.’’ (Katherine)
5. “Don’t be antisocial at university. Try to get on with all your course mates!’’ (Serena)
6. “Don’t moan and cry over every little thing. Who wants a boring and argumentative friend?’’ (Hisham)
7. “Don’t disregard the local customs and food.Try things before saying that you don’t like them!’’ ( Antonio)
8. “Don’t let yourself be deceived by people you know. It’s all well and good to make friends, but don’t let them take the Mickey.’’(Lea)
9. “Don’t isolate yourself. Avoid always having your earphones in or having your pho- ne stuck to your ear all the times…’’ (Naachiz)
10. “Don’t forget about your boyfriend or girlfriend. If you meet someone that you are interested in, remember to let them know!’’ (Andrea)

3. I can only go to the UK, America or Australia as I only speak English If you want to go to a country to learn the language, then why hesitate? There are crash courses that you can do once there that will help you to learn quickly.
4. It’s too expensive! This is true, but perhaps you could try and get a university grant, discounted taxes or general student discounts. Before deciding to go abroad, it’s better to seek advice from your university finance office.
5. It’s only for History, Literature or Art students Nothing could be more far from the truth! There are courses for students from all fa- culties.

What do

you expect

from this

experience?

You’ll live 100% the student life. Alone and immersed into the world of university, you study by day and party by night. You’ll manage your money and learn to cook. You’ll be able to express your opinion in another language and converse with people that think differently from you. You’ll acquire:

1. Cultural awareness
2. Linguistic competency
3. Independence and autonomy
4. Ability to manage difficult situations
5. The skill to cope with stress

1. Don’t judge people after just one bad experience. Try not to stereotype.
2. Be respectful. Remember: “always tre- at others how you wish to be treated’’
3. Customs and local ways may be diffe- rent to yours? Accept them and don’t be disrespectful.
4. Learn local expressions and ways of saying.
5. If there is something that doesn’t work (e.g. public transport) try and avoid mo- aning and making inapposite compari- sons.

What do

people

expect from

you?

What do you

expect from

people?

1. Be prepared to be stereotyped. Usual- ly they tend to mis judge people from another culture. Try and prove them wrong from the word go!
2. If you have a doubt about something or you are lost, ask!!! People are there to help those in difficulty.
3. If you have questions regarding cu- stoms or cultural differences, do not hesi- tate to ask.
4. If they speak too quickly and you can’t understand, ask them to slow down.

What does

your new uni-

versity expect

from you?

1. Be honest and don’t copy from you class mates.
2. Accept the differences between univer- sities: don’t moan, and get on with lear- ning as much as you can.
3. Go to classes, seminars and conferen- ces. They serve to help increase your cul- tural awareness.
4. Be aware that your new university will have a different marking system to the one that you are used to.
5. Work in groups and accept the views of your class mates.

What do you

expect from

your new

university?

1. Present yourself to the office for new foreign students.
2. If you have problems go to the neces- sary office and ask for advice.
3. Every university should inform studen- ts regarding healthcare and what to do should they have health problems.
4. See if there will be any orientation days which will help you to integrate easier.
5. See if there are any work or study groups aimed specvifically at foreign stu- dents.