Nowadays, as globalization has become an inevitable trend. The communication between different countries is more frequently. This communication is not only economic exchanges, but also cultural exchanges and knowledge exchanges. Therefore, with this situation, more and more people would like study abroad. Study abroad is already became a new catchword in this century.
In this age of economic globalization, knowledge occupies an important position in the development of society. Therefore, more and more people started to pay attention to study abroad. “Study abroad is good or bad?” became a hot topic of people’s debate. We will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of study abroad in this blog. What the benefits of study abroad? Study abroad has what problems? In this age, study abroad is “important” or “necessary”?
Dr. Mike Woolf shares his insights in the website http://sharing.educationdynamics.com/blogs/interviews/archive/2008/12/22/what-makes-a-great-study-abroad-program.aspx. He considered, study abroad is important but it is not necessary. It is not necessary to study abroad to be an educated person. He thinks many people who are highly educated do not have the option to study abroad. Therefore, study abroad is a way to increase the knowledge and insight, but not the only way. It is important but not necessary.
The advantages of study abroad
Without a doubt, study abroad brings many benefits to us. Whatever focuses on study or life, there are a lot of advantages. Study abroad gives the opportunity to learn about different culture in different country. At the same time we can makes friends with the people who came from different countries, disseminate our national culture.
The website (http://studying-abroad.net/) shows some benefits of study abroad. For example, study abroad can help us improved language skills in a foreign country, study abroad can give us much greater self-confidence and self-reliance, and so on.
There are various ways to study abroad. For example, study abroad program, exchange students or study abroad at their own expense. There is an article (http://mariaabroad.com/2009/05/study-abroad-programs-advantages-and-disadvantages/), it’s a student use herself as an example, described advantages and disadvantages of study abroad program. However, whatever what kind of study mode, the advantages of study abroad on basic are same.
There are a lot of advantages of study abroad; the first one is “improve language skills”. Living in a new country, the most important thing is command their language. We can’t find this coercive language environment in our own country. I think this is the biggest reason people would like study abroad. This is a discussion website; some discuss the advantages and disadvantages of study abroad here. http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic41651.html
The disadvantages of study abroad
Everything has two sides, study abroad brings many benefits to us, does not mean there are no problems of study abroad. Study abroad also has some disadvantages. The first and the biggest problem is expenditure. This website (http://sify.com/news/majority-chinese-studying-overseas-funded-by-parents-news-international-kixjkcjcgjg.html) shows majority Chinese studying overseas funded by parents. In fact, study abroad requires a lot of financial support. This expenditure is not just educational fee but cost of living. If study abroad several years, it should be a vast cost. It requires the family who has a child study abroad should have a better economic base. Study abroad brings a big economic burden to a number of families.
Except the expenditure, security is another issue of concern. For some younger oversea students, this issue is more important. Their parents will care about their children.
Nowadays, study abroad has become a trend, this situation is threaten for their country. If the students would like find a job in that country after their graduation, it will make brain drain of their motherland.
In my opinion, the advantages of study abroad are more than disadvantages of study abroad. The best evidence of this fact is increasing of study abroad. They choose study abroad because it has a lot of benefits and it worth to do. I found two website shows ten reasons of study abroad. There are http://mariaabroad.com/2009/02/10-reasons-to-study-abroad/ and http://www.vistawide.com/studyabroad/why_study_abroad.htm. Even the content of these two are not identical, they all can prove that study abroad is an important turning point in the life. It is a big decision of our life. Study abroad provides a good opportunity for changes of our living environment.
As for me, I am an international student. From my own experience of study abroad, I found these ten advantages of study abroad.
Study abroad helps us to improve our language skill.
Study abroad helps us to know another culture and exchanges our culture to others.
Study abroad helps us to develop living skills.
Study abroad expands our worldwide.
Study abroad enhances employment opportunities. We can choose working in that country or go back to our motherland after graduation.
Study abroad helps us to learn about ourselves.
Study abroad provides us a good opportunity to travel.
Study abroad helps us to make new friends come from different countries.
Study abroad helps us to enrich life experience.
Study abroad helps us to learn independence.
Study abroad has their advantages and disadvantages, and it depends on what kind of study experience you want to have.
References
Arkoudis, S. (n.d.). Teaching international students: Strategies to enhance learning. Retrieved from http://www.cshe.unimelb.edu.au/pdfs/international.pdf
Benefits of study abroad. (2009). Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://studying-abroad.net/
Davison, M. (2008). What makes a great study abroad program. Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://sharing.educationdynamics.com/blogs/interviews/archive/2008/12/22/what-makes-a-great-study-abroad-program.aspx
Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad/working abroad. (2009). Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://www.english-test.net/forum/ftopic41651.html
Dwyer, M. M. & Peters, C. K. (2004). The benefits of study abroad. Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0403/benefits_study_abroad.shtml
Majority Chinese studying overseas funded by parents. (2010). Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://sify.com/news/majority-chinese-studying-overseas-funded-by-parents-news-international-kixjkcjcgjg.html
Remington, A. (2004). Study abroad builds bridges to opportunity. Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://www.uiowa.edu/~ptimes/issues04-05/spring04-05/study-abroad.html
Study abroad programs – advantages and disadvantages. (2009). Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://mariaabroad.com/2009/05/study-abroad-programs-advantages-and-disadvantages/
Studying abroad. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://www.degree-essays.com/studying-abroad.php
The advantages and disadvantages of studying abroad. (2007). Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://www.usingenglish.com/forum/editing-writing-topics/54952-advantages-disadvantages-studying-abroad.html
Why study abroad? 10 reasons why you should study in a foreign country. (n.d.). Retrieved August 26, 2010, from http://www.vistawide.com/studyabroad/why_study_abroad.htm
10 reasons to study abroad. (2009). Retrieved September 23, 2010, from http://mariaabroad.com/2009/02/10-reasons-to-study-abroad/
Hello! I really like your topic.
回复删除Being an exchange student in our day and age is becoming increasingly popular and is indeed a fantastic way to broaden our knowledge of that place and their culture.
I agree with you that there are alot of disadvantages also, like the risk of discrimination. Also when your a visitor in another country and you don't have a full grasp of the language it can also hinder your experiences.
I think studying abroad would be a really fun, and a great confidence booster and hope that one day (in the near future) I too can experience studying and living in a foreign country!
Being a student studying abroad myself, I can see a lot of what you're trying to say in your work. I agree completely with what you're saying, grabbing an opportunity like going out of your way to get education you could have gotten at home is something that changes you and shapes you into a true individual. It endorses tolerance and lets you get a wider world view. It is a large part of gaining independence for many as well.
回复删除As money is always an issue, I do find that government endorsed programs like Norway's scholarship programs encourages students to do their best in order to pay the least from their own pocket, but not every country can enjoy the same freedom other countries do. I do have a feeling that those who can't rely on too much support from home, in the shape of the government or family, get the most of a proper life experience. They do have to go out and get a job as well as focus on their schoolwork much of the time.
Great work, I really found myself engrossed in the material you were showing us.
Having studied abroard I can totally see the advantages of it, but then i can also see the disadvantages. Having travelled alone at a young age and lived amoung a very different culture i found it hard to be understood even with knowlege of the language, there are chances that natives will not take you seriously even if they are aware you are not a tourist. Of course living abroard is a fantastic way to gain independence, after coming back from Japan i was a completely different person.
回复删除After reading your blog I would love to study abroad. I think it would be a great experience and agree with you in that there are many advantages to it. The advantages clearly outweigh the disadvantages I believe and as you are speaking from experience you would know.
回复删除The main negative would be the cost with the international fees involved in studying abroad. But I’m sure the life skills, experience, friends made and opportunities created would be second to none. Everyone is different I suppose and some people may miss home a lot more than they realize when being in a foreign country.
After spending 6 months working abroad, I would love to go back and have the opportunity to study in a foreign country. The opportunity and experience of travelling at a young age is incredible and I would recommend this for others.
Hi Sarah,
回复删除Thank your comment.
Yes, study abroad has a lot of disadvantages as I said above. However, I think the advantages of study abroad is worth to do. The experience of study abroad is very precious, and actually, quite fun.
We can improve our language skills. We can know about different cultures. We can make foreign friends. It will be a fantastic memory in my life.
Hi Dusty,
回复删除Thank your comment.
I really agree with your view. Money is always an issue. As in China, some universities will have some programs with foreign universities. They will choose some exchanges students join the program. They will undertake tuition. However, currently in China, the majority of students who study abroad are still at their own expense. As a results, some international students will do a part-time job, in order to alleviate the economic pressure.
Hi Sunchild,
回复删除Thank your comment.
From your comment, seemed you have an experience of study abroad, is it?
Study abroad has both advantages and disadvantages, but I think the advantages of study abroad is enough to cover the disadvantages. As you said, living abroad is a fantastic way to gain independence, I think so. I think that through these six months I have been in New Zealand, I already more independent than I have been in China before.
Hi Nathan,
回复删除Thank your comment, and thank your support.
Exactly, the main disadvantage of study abroad is finance issue. And some people will miss home. Especially, the students who was young. However, the advantages of study abroad is significant.
Hope you will have a opportunity to study abroad in the nearly future.