Journal 3 -benefits of studying abroad

“All business is global, yet all markets are local. This globalized multicultural world needs leaders with a keen understanding of national cultures. By learning from other countries, these leaders develop the best thinking and vest practices from around the world enabling them to leverage culture as a tool for competitive advantage." (Rosen, 2005, 132). As the world faces globalization with technological advancement and lower trade barriers, it demands global leaders who have broader view of world and respect other culture. With this trend reflected on our overall society, there is no doubt that it is required for people to learn foreign languages to communicate with people and gain cultural knowledge from different countries. To enhance these abilities in global ages, I think studying abroad will benefit students in terms of giving opportunities such as gain cultural awareness, access to real authentic use of foreign languages, and decision-making and problem-solving skills.

First of all, Students can learn different cultural knowledge by getting along with foreign friends. For example, students can learn how the school life is different from theirs and also can share their own thoughts with foreign friends on international affairs. Moreover they might realize various perceptions on food, families, jobs and gain understanding of other traditions and social customs. This new cultural awareness will help them have various perspectives and ability to view the world in a different way .In addition this might provide some chances to learn good points from foreign culture and reduce the prejudice toward different culture, which is a big obstacle to learning a foreign language. As culture has great influence on everything people do, it is a basis for communication. Therefore it is assuredly required for workers who internationally interact and communicate with counterparts overseas to gain fully understanding of culture, as poor understanding of each others’ culture can lead to troubled results and relationships. When we consider the reference ‘Culture is the way a group of people solves problems and reconciles dilemmas.’ (Trompenaars Alfons and Hampden-Turner,1998,6), it might be crucial to build different cultural background knowledge for effective interaction and problem-solving. And studying abroad benefits students enormously allowing them to encounter various culture from natives and foreign students.

Moreover, Studying abroad gives opportunities to get access to authentic use of foreign language. In general, foreign language which students learn in Korea is restricted only to boring grammar books and thick reading books with lots of difficult vocabulary. This foreign languages learning is not useful to develop speaking skill, which is so important and got focused these days in Korea. On the other hand, staying abroad allows learners to acquire language in a natural and practical way by getting exposed to genuine language used by native speakers. Imagine that you are in a restaurant in a foreign country. You might hear conversation between two girls in a foreign language and have to order food listening to what the waiter is saying. In this environment, you cannot help speaking a foreign language and it will advance your speaking ability further. At the same time, you also might improve your listening skills learning useful expressions. As you get used to this real English environment, it might reduce time to understand others’ saying in a foreign language and utter what you think. With rapid globalization, the chances to encounter foreign languages has been increasing from surfing the internet in a daily life to making a contract between businessman or managers in multinational organizations. Thus the ability to use foreign languages acquired through studying abroad enables people to deliver their thoughts and opinion to counterparts accurately and fluently.

Last but not least, students can develop self-confidence and independence by managing some difficulties in foreign countries by themselves. Staying in foreign countries without family and friends might be one thing that students should overcome. Also without any aids from parents, students have to make decisions by themselves when spending some money, getting sick, getting along with foreigners. Sometimes problems which are hard to handle can occur, however, they can learn valuable lessons and develop self -confidence by overcoming some hardships on their own. Moreover, people can increase maturity by understanding some strengths and weakness of themselves in the process of problem-solving. What people obtain through staying away from home and handling all the circumstances are rather different experiences from what they had learned from books and classes in their country. Moreover, it affects people over their whole life in a positive way reminding them of unexpected situations and the ways to deal with them in a foreign country.

However, there are some people who cast doubt on the benefits of studying abroad, pointing out many students who waste their time drinking and partying with other Koreans in foreign nations .I think the effectiveness of studying abroad is dependent upon learner’s mind and attitude. If learners neglect the roles and goals of studying aboard, the outcomes will turn out to be trivial and the valuable opportunities and time might be wasted. Also great amount of budget for school tuition and the cost of living can be problem .However many international programs for studying abroad such as exchanged students and scholarship students have started to offer more opportunities to allow students to take classes in foreign university with lower budget when they fulfill requirements. Therefore for those who are qualified to learn about other regions, languages and cultures and have broader point of view, opportunities might be provided. Also many students concerned about health and safety risks. However international educational exchange organizations reported studying in a foreign country is generally no more dangerous than studying in student’s country. Because many international programs offer some recommendations for students such as health and safety guidelines issued by advisors and program sponsors. Also as international programs choose schools after careful examining its environment and safety, it might be more secure place than people generally think. Students need to follow their guidelines avoiding dangerous spots and contacting with advisors at international program regularly.

The research conducted from International Education of Students (IES) study abroad programs from 1950 and 1999 shows that more than 3400 respondents ( a 23 percent response rate) mentioned that studying abroad is so valuable and unforgettable memories in one’s life that it continues to affect and enrich his or her life in a positive way. There are big survey categories such as personal development, academic commitment, intercultural development and career development. Respondents answer that it served as catalyst for increased maturity, influenced subsequent educational experiences, helped them better understand their own cultural values and biases and they acquired skill sets that influenced career path most in each categories.

With some benefits ,studying abroad can give many chances to learn not only foreign language abilities and cultural awareness, but also the way of handling some troubles in unexpected situations. What people acquire from their experiences in foreign countries affects enormously their life and brings great advantages to build competences required for global ages. There might be some disadvantages such as spending time drinking and partying , money problems and health and safety risks which we cannot neglect .However it’s learners responsibility to make them another chances for self-development and international organizations and universities offer many programs with lower budget and information to prepare dangerous situations. Therefore I strongly insist the benefits of studying abroad is huge. Keeping these things in mind, students try to do their best to make the studying abroad display its effectiveness to the fullest to meet the today’s global challenges.

Before going abroad for me, I always said that we don't need to go abroad to improve English. However, I totally different from before. I strongly recommend that you should go abroad to experiences not to image and realize in Korea. It is not just to impove our English. There is really something that those who have been there know. If there is someone who is hesistated at going abroad or not, I will say straightly that you have to go there even if you don't have enough money.


Sincerely,


Kanghoon