So, study abroad programs, if you are reading this it is likely you have heard of them one way or another, either you are a teacher who had set this assignment up for school students to submit to you, or you are reading this after it has been graded because i want to brag about it being a good article. It would seem study abroad programs have been causing a great deal of debate lately, so let’s see what all the fuss is about.
if you are a good student in a school, a high-school graduate, or a successful businessman, it could be agreed that studying is rather important, so, why is there a lot of debate among academic experts and bystanders alike? well, according to "The Bright Side of Studying Abroad" by Phillip Jones, studying abroad has its own great advantages. From an academic standpoint, students can study with scholars in academic fields and explore courses that might not be available at home. Learning about the culture based around the language of which you are learning can agreeably be a great advantage as, foreign experiences can make your résumé stand out from the crowd. As a student in a foreign country, you will always have to think on your feet. This means that your future employer can easily see you as a pioneer against other graduates- someone who is not afraid to use and explore new method's and ideas. An article on the QS Top Universities website includes an interview with Dee Roach, a manager for the Navitas Education Group. Roach advises that anyone who can state on their résumé that they studies abroad has a advantage when starting a career. she stated that the experience of studying in a foreign country "will prove to your potential employer that you have the ability to stand on your own two feet, that you can fit in when placed in different environments, that you are resourceful, and you have initiative"
so, yes the idea is a very nice one, and can be beneficial to the elite, but what about those who do not bare this kind of personality? what happens to students who only want to take pictures and eat food? and does this cost money? if not, how will the schools pay for the travel? well according to "Don't Call a Vacation 'studying'" by Debra Wu, studying abroad is just one long vacation. as stated in the article "Lilli Engle, president of the American University Center of Provence, offers offers her opinion about student' motivations for studying abroad in kathleen kingsbury's June 2013 article for the BBC's website. 'The primary motivator to study abroad now is not necessarily to learn but, instead, to have a great adventure," she says. 'Study abroad programs are happy to oblige" however, the question may be asked, and rightly so, is it really JUST a vacation? are students really learning from spending time sunbathing and exploring in these foreign retreats. Well according to a survey by the forum on Education Abroad, only 22% of study abroad programs check students' statuses of actually acquiring new languages. although, Melissa Lee stated in a 2015 article on the Odyssey's website that, "professors are extremely lenient, they understand that the real reason why students study in foreign countries is for the cultural experience." so, it would seem that studying abroad is nothing more than a vacation, which nothing is wrong with that, however, how are they paying for it? do the students pay for it? why would you make students pay for something like that which counts towards a grade? the logic is fallacious and nonsensical. Furthermore, if the program pays for itself, where is IT getting the money? it doesn't take much to see that it would be a waste of money, so, in short. Its a nice idea, however, it doesn't work logically, or practically, ultimately, it's just a huge waste of valuable time.