Studying in a foreign country is an amazing opportunity, but it’s easy to get caught up in the novelty of it all and neglect to prepare adequately. Here, we provide our top suggestions for making the most of your time abroad as a student.

Study Abroad

At the age of 16, I participated in a boarding school-sponsored Study Abroad program. I spent my weekdays in Alsace, France, volunteering at a local school as part of a service and language immersion programme. Even today, more than a decade later, I can’t help but wonder how much more enjoyable my international experience would have been if I had been better prepared.

Students considering a Study Abroad experience now have access to a wealth of online resources designed to help them not only survive, but thrive during their time away from home.

These are some pieces of advice I wish someone had given me before I studied abroad.

1. Establish a plan – Create a bucket list of your program goals

study abroad

Knowing what you hope to gain from your study abroad experience can greatly increase the likelihood that you will appreciate every minute of it. Having a list of goals, even if it’s not very detailed, might help keep you on track when the days start to blend together.

As a teenager, I spent three weeks in Alsace without a clue as to where I was or what to anticipate. I assumed that my program and my instructors would take care of the details for me. They did, but since I hadn’t done my own investigation, it was all for naught.

Volunteering in a tiny community kept me busy during my time in a language and service immersion program. The work and my host’s house were the extent of my knowledge of the town, and I rapidly found myself leading what felt like a pretty rural existence.

I am a visual learner, therefore I had to use visual aids like maps, images, and actual visits to places to fully grasp my location and my intended destination.

Fortunately, I connected with a fellow traveler who had a similar interest in France and decided to show me around.

from time spent doing other things than work. As a devout Catholic, she expressed an interest in attending a service at Notre Dame de Paris. I wasn’t religious, yet even I can appreciate Quasimodo. When our company took a weekend vacation to Paris and I fell in love with the medieval cathedral, I reluctantly participated.

Because of that good time, I decided to participate in all of the trip’s activities. In retrospect, I could have gotten to know the places much more quickly if I had set more goals (as she did).

Having concrete, attainable goals to work toward will help you avoid becoming sidetracked by less significant concerns. While abroad, you can make memories that will last a lifetime by demanding but achievable goals you set for yourself.

SOME EXAMPLES ARE AS FOLLOWS:

  • Join a dolphin swim group
  • Drop from the sky
  • Get involved with a community
  • service group at my host university or college.
  • Acquire a big social circle.

 

THINGS TO PUT ON A BUCKET LIST:

  • If you need recommendations on individuals to meet while abroad, your Study Abroad advisor should be able to help. Inquire of them who you ought to meet with or interview when overseas.
  • They might know somebody who knows someone who knows something about the country or city!
    Vacation spots: When it comes time for your study abroad spring break or winter vacation, you’ll already know where you want to go because you planned ahead!
  • Options for Activities: Write down in this section of your black book any specific interests you may have, such as “try traditional English tea at Leighton House Museum & Garden.”

2. Attend and participate actively in orientation.

Study Abroad

As a rule, I tend to keep to myself. Like most people, I find it challenging to warm up to strangers, but once I do, I can’t stop talking!

This highlights the significance of your program’s focus. As a teenager, I despised orientation. I didn’t want to waste my time with those lame games meant to break the ice. But my goodness, what a difference it makes!

You can overcome your nervousness and anxiety about studying abroad during orientation. It’s a great chance to meet other travelers and make some friends before you land, making it easier to spot a friendly face among all the strangers.

However, success is contingent on your own personal effort. Attend all scheduled events. Be receptive to the guidance of former students, guidance counselors, and instructors, and speak up if you have any doubts or concerns. It will be simpler to dive headfirst into the event if you arrive feeling prepared.

Don’t waste too much time experimenting; once you get going, the time will fly by.

 

 

Some Suggestions to Help You Maximize Your Orientation

  • Don’t be afraid to seek clarification from your instructors; they’re there to help you succeed for a reason. Talk to your professors and roommates about any problems you’re having with the curriculum or your living situation.
  • You’ll be in better shape for upcoming tests and tasks if you get your hands on the answers you need as soon as possible.
  • Just like you, the other people in the orientation room want to learn as much as possible about studying abroad so that they, too, can have a fantastic time.

 

 

3.Get out of your routine and into something new!

Study Abroad

Since many nations have unique culinary specialties that most tourists never get to try, I now regret not taking greater advantage of the local cuisine when I was abroad.

Try new things, even if they scare or confuse you at first. Studying abroad presents a wealth of options for personal development, whether you want to broaden your linguistic horizons or expand your palate.

 

4.Develop deep relationships with others.

Study Abroad

Connect with other new employees and make new acquaintances at orientation by creating a “black book.” This is not romantic guidance, but rather the first steps in learning how to network effectively.

Meeting influential professionals and future coworkers is a major benefit of studying abroad. Acquaint yourself with them and keep their contact details handy. Don’t lose touch when your course concludes!

The vast majority of recent graduates and post-graduate professionals (including C-suite executives) use networking to get employment and advance in their careers. At orientation, you’ll begin building a network that will serve you well throughout your time in the program and beyond.

Connect with your adviser and fellow students by giving brief introductions about who you are, what you enjoy, and what you intend to get out of the program.

You don’t have to be stuffy or official; in fact, that’s counterproductive. In truth, you’re here to hunt for a professional connection and maybe cultivate it for the rest of your life. In the long run, you can never predict who will remember you (or who will recommend you for a job).

 

 

5. Adapt to the local language and customs

Study Abroad

Get to work on your foreign language skills if you want to travel to a country where English is not the official language. Your ability to communicate in the local language is an essential component of your study abroad experience.

I felt my French was fairly good after my time in France. When I got there, I found out that they talked far quicker than I was able to keep up with. I couldn’t bring myself to speak for a few days out of fear. Then I understood that approach wasn’t going to help me learn French. As a result, I committed to studying the French-English dictionary every day, doing my best despite making numerous blunders.

People were happy to see me making an effort, and I saw an immediate uptick in the friendliness of random encounters (if you’ve been to France before, you may have witnessed the hostility directed toward tourists who make no effort).

If fluency in a foreign language is a prerequisite for your program, take heart in the fact that you’ll have plenty of time to practice on your own. Your post-study abroad résumé will benefit greatly from this experience.

The more you understand the customs and traditions of your host country, the easier it will be to establish friends among the natives there. The more you study a foreign culture, the more you’ll grasp the reasoning behind the customs of its people.

Read more: options-for-low-cost-studyabroad

6. learn the lay of the land

Study Abroad

Do some background reading about your destination before you travel for your Study Abroad program. One obvious approach to prepare for your trip and feel more at home at your destination is to study the language. Nonetheless, there are more enhancements available to you.

  • Study up on the local traditions before you leave.
  • Find out much you can about their past, present, and any upcoming cultural changes.
  • Spend some time researching the cuisine of the area to see whether it differs from what is available in the United States.
  • Investigate some of the music and paintings that originated there, as well as any well-known artists who currently reside in or were born to this area (this could include musicians, painters, and sculptors), so that you’ll be prepared to recognize their names and works in future discussions, lectures, and the like.

Do some geographical analysis as well: How does the weather pattern appear there? What kinds of wild animals call their territory home? How far is it from major cities all over the globe? The responses can be used to arrange trips to unfamiliar parts of campus, such as museums, galleries, the zoo, etc.

7. Take trips both to and inside your host country

Study Abroad

Your first thought is probably, “Of course, I should travel! As much as possible, I would like to immerse myself in my host nation. However, students often overlook the possibility that travel within their Study Abroad site could provide them with just as much insight into local and national cultures as travel within their host country.

If you’re a student in London, for instance, you may easily take a day trip to the nearby universities of Oxford and Cambridge for some additional learning. If you happen to be a London resident but never leave your house on the weekends or during school breaks, you are missing out on events that could have changed your life.

Keep a record, up and down

Study Abroad

Keeping a journal is an excellent tool for getting the most out of your time spent studying in a foreign country. Keeping a journal is a terrific way to discover what you enjoy most, to think back on what you’ve learned, and to make connections with others who share your experiences.

When I studied abroad, I was also fighting a chronic illness that had just been diagnosed. When I was having a hard time adjusting to the changes in my health, it helped to look back on the reels of images I had taken on my vacation to remember how amazing it had been.

The pictures brought back genuine feelings of joy, curiosity, and wonder, and I reflected on what an incredible adventure it had been. I had developed so much! How much more I anticipated expanding my horizons by traveling internationally.

 

9. Make a lasting physical impression

Study Abroad

You will leave a piece of yourself in your host country. It’s good to be able to do something during your time abroad that will leave a positive mark on the locals and their community. One simple method to achieve this is to give back to the community where you are living and studying abroad by contributing money or goods. Don’t simply consider what people require; also consider the possibilities!

 

Methods of Community Service

  • Donate some new clothing to the kids of your host family before you leave.
  • Spend some money on books for the library of your host institution.
  • Get your host family some groceries at a local store.

Travel safely and have a fantastic trip!

Studying in a foreign country is both an exciting and terrifying prospect. I’ve been there, done that as a student who has participated in two different semesters of study abroad programs in different parts of the world.