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Many students wish to travel and experience new parts of the world while earning their college degrees. Although such travel can be costly, finding scholarships or financial support may make this experience more affordable.
Scholarships for studying abroad typically cover tuition, student fees and related school-related costs such as travel costs (if needed). Some scholarships even provide airfare subsidies – an invaluable help if traveling overseas!
Cultural Immersion
Experience different cultures can offer an invaluable opportunity to gain new perspectives on the world, whether that means learning how to perceive certain colors differently or understanding everyday life and cultural celebrations more fully. Study abroad provides the perfect chance for truly immersing oneself in another culture; whether this involves living at an entire homestay or simply greeting and speaking a foreign language differently – cultural immersion provides much more than simply breaking out of one’s comfort zone!
Studies of GSL/SAP programs consistently demonstrate how participants often undergo an awakening of cultural awareness that leads them to reconsider their perceptions of themselves and others. One such study showed how students began shifting from viewing similarities among people as limited or exclusively Western to global perspectives upon returning home.
Cultural immersion comes in many forms, from learning the local language and culture, trying new foods, attending local events and traditions, or even simply engaging with your local peers – for instance by making friends in your student housing unit or taking part in classes taught by native speakers – it’s all up to you!
Fostering intercultural interactions has numerous advantages, from deepening your understanding of your hosts to broadening your network of future connections. This can be especially valuable if you work in international business or any field that requires strong global networks.
Fostering cultural immersion requires making an effort to be present and immerse yourself as much as possible in your surroundings. That may mean breaking out of your comfort zone and trying something you wouldn’t normally, such as dancing or learning how to greet people in their native tongue; or it may simply involve getting out there and connecting with the local community through activities like joining social groups or volunteering.
New Experiences
Studying abroad on scholarship can widen your horizons and transform the way you view the world. It may challenge some of your beliefs about certain issues – for instance how other cultures perceive Americans and their lifestyle – which could even change some of your beliefs about specific topics like American culture. Studying abroad also offers the unique experience of culture shock in an unhurried environment while teaching you something about your host country.
If you choose a study abroad program administered by your college, educational credits earned will automatically transfer back. With external programs however, you will need to ensure that they will be accepted by the university or company hosting the course.
While studying abroad, you will meet students both from your school and possibly other countries. You will likely form friendships that last years later should you decide to work overseas or need somewhere safe to crash when traveling far-flung cities.
Your experience abroad will allow you to discover activities you may never have tried otherwise; perhaps hiking, snorkeling or kayaking might become something you enjoy doing more regularly after visiting another country! Furthermore, you may gain access to forms of entertainment unavailable back home such as plays, movies or dancing performances that would not otherwise be accessible.
Once your studies are over, you will have gained a much broader knowledge of the world and how different cultures operate differently. This perspective can help make you a more understanding and inclusive person when engaging with fellow global citizens; additionally it may give you an edge when applying for jobs as it distinguishes you from candidates without as extensive an education background.
Language Learning
No matter if you are an academic major or general interest student, nothing beats immersing yourself in the culture that speaks your foreign language as the best way to hone it. Spending time abroad through pre-approved programs not only meets many major and minor course requirements but can also develop valuable cross-cultural competencies while increasing employment prospects.
Study abroad students often study in groups, similar to college classes. While this may be beneficial for some, staying with host families and locals often helps accelerate language acquisition more efficiently as you’ll constantly use and practice it in an authentic context.
Apart from living and studying abroad, many students take advantage of immersion to apply their newly acquired language skills in other ways – for instance through internships. Such immersion helps build confidence which is crucial in language acquisition.
One effective strategy for enriching your experience abroad is reading local magazines and newspapers in their native tongue. Reading out loud forces you to use pronunciation and retention skills more efficiently; alternatively, translations of books that you already know in another language may make this task simpler as they will familiarize themselves with its plot and grammar structures.
Students may also participate in the Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) program, which offers overseas foreign language instruction and cultural immersion experiences for American undergraduate and graduate students in fifteen “critical” languages not commonly taught in U.S. schools but vital for national security and economic prosperity. CLS scholars serve as citizen ambassadors, dispelling negative stereotypes of Americans abroad while building lasting relationships in host countries through lasting relationships made possible with scholarships through CLS that cover tuition fees, housing/meals costs, book purchases and travel.
Life Skills
Studying abroad often forces students to become independent in all aspects of their lives, from academic work and social activities to budgeting finances and maintaining an organized living space on their own. Living away from home forces them to develop important life skills that will benefit them in future careers; additionally it teaches resourceful problem-solving techniques which employers appreciate, while creative solutions to everyday problems will impress employers at work and allow students to handle any workplace situation more successfully.
Being immersed in another culture teaches students empathy for those they meet, something it’s easy to forget when your values and beliefs may not align with everyone around you. Learning about a country’s history and customs will increase empathy towards its residents; an invaluable skill that will enable you to form healthy relationships both personally and professionally.
Studying abroad may initially present many new experiences and challenges. It is important to remember this is all part of the learning experience and will get easier over time as you adapt to your surroundings. Students with positive attitudes who welcome change will find adapting much simpler. They can concentrate more on their studies, have improved work performance and become more productive than before.
There are various scholarships that help fund international study trips, such as the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship. This award supports underrepresented undergraduate students with costs associated with studying abroad for either semester or academic year programs overseas and is administered by the Institute of International Education. It primarily serves students from communities that have historically been underrepresented abroad – such as African Americans/Blacks, Hispanic/Latinos, Alaska Natives/Indians/Native Hawaiians etc – including LGBTQIA+ individuals from First-Generation College Students Military Veterans or minority-Serving Institutions among others.
