The Advantages And Disadvantages Of Studying Abroad

When people's standard of living increase, they often think about improving their knowledge
for a better life. To do that, they choose to study in developed countries where they can get
progressive education. However, everything has its advantages and disadvantages, so studying
in abroad is not an expectation.
In my opinion, I think studying abroad is the best way to improve ourselves. As you know, there
are obvious advantages to study abroad.
Firstly, we have chance to improve our language. I think nothing is better than to learn language
with the native speakers. Because we can practice with the local people what we study at
school, so it is very useful to improve our listening and speaking skills. It also offered chances to
discover the new cultures, way of thinking, history, customs and lifestyles.
Secondly, we have opportunities to study the new technologies and most recent science
achievements. In addition, we are equipped with the valuable and updated knowledge which
may help us find jobs easily after graduating.
However, studying abroad is often expensive. We have to pay not only for our school fees but
also for our living cost. Therefore, finance may become the biggest problem. Consequently, it
distracts our mind from studying to earning money. 
Last but not least, adapting to a new environment is a real challenge for every foreign student.
While changing the weather can affect our health, different cultures and customs may influence
our mind and make us become less confident or even a victim of discrimination. Sometimes
may turn into a struggle for survival in a strange country. If we don’t have enough physical and
mental strength, we will fail to adjust ourselves in the new environment. As a result, we could
either study or gain beautiful experiences as we have expected.
In conclusion, while studying abroad offers great opportunities for a better future, it also has
challenges that we must try our best to overcome what happened to make our
dream...

Some students will find it is a standard component of a course they are studying – typically a
language degree taken in the UK, for example, will feature anything up to one full year of the
course, which may be 3 or 4 years, sometimes more, studying abroad in a country or countries
where that language is spoken. A student studying Spanish, for example, may find that as well
as the opportunity to study for a year in Spain as part of his or her course, they can choose to
undertake their study abroad in a Spanish speaking country in South America.

The benefit of studying abroad in the context of a language course is indisputable. The student
will find that rather than simply learning in a class, by rote and exercise and homework,
perhaps with some oral practice, that they will have to use the language to get by. Quite likely
studying abroad will often place the student in situations where they are not able to get by with
their mother tongue, even if it is English, which is widely spoken over many parts of the world.
The effect of immersion into an environment where the student’s language skills have to be
relied upon just to get by tends to have a positive effect on the student’s skills in speaking that
language, as they are forced to rely upon what they have learned, and indeed learn more of
that language. Often, a student’s ability to speak a new language will improve quickest when
they are studying abroad.

Of course there are other benefits to studying abroad besides immersion in the language which
apply both to linguistic study and all other types of study. Starting with the example of the
language student, it is understandable that without sufficiently significant exposure to the
culture of the country speaking the language which the student is studying, or more simply
without the opportunity to use and practice the language in a real context, i.e., in that country,
a country speaking that language, or simply conversing with other speakers of that language,
motivation may be lost. That is why actually living and / or studying abroad in a country which
speaks that language can help; it justifies the learning, makes it all worthwhile, and places all
the study the student has undertaken in a real-life context, so it finally becomes useful in real-
life situations.

Benefits of studying abroad:

Other benefits can apply to all types of studying abroad, whatever the subject. Living in any
new country, whether working or studying, is likely to broaden the mind. Experiencing new
cultures, interacting with those with a background different from one’s own, seeing a different
way of life, and experiencing the way other peoples do things is generally a positive, enhancing
experience. Exploring cultures and civilisations outside of one’s own, which may happen when
studying abroad, is intellectually and spiritually enriching. It also encourages and nurtures
independence, as the student studying abroad, out of his or her familiar territory, is placed
when into an unfamiliar environment, possibly having to discover or work out new ways to get
around and do things. In this respect, studying abroad can be confidence-building, equipping
the student with the resourcefulness needed to be self-sufficient in a foreign country.

Another benefit to studying abroad is that it tends to look good on the CV. Although this is not
exclusively true, employers tend to look favourably upon periods of studying abroad for all the
reasons above. Living, working and / or studying abroad shows independence, initiative,
resilience, and that most prized of characteristics in the workplace, adaptability. Chances are
the potential employer, when seeing that the candidate has undertaken a period of studying
abroad, will see the applicant as somebody who is not afraid to undertake a challenge –
somebody with a sense of adventure, and somebody who is not afraid to step out of their
comfort zone in order to broaden their horizons

ADVANTAGES TO STUDY ABROAD PROGRAMS • Learn about another culture. Living in a
different country for awhile will teach you way more than you can learn in any book about that
culture. • Master another language. When you suddenly find yourself immersed in a world
where everyone speaks another language, you may be scared out of your mind. But this wears
off, and before you know it you'll be fluent. • A crash course in independence. When you
study abroad, there's no going home to Mom and Dad when you're lonely or need to do your
laundry. You're on your own. Scary as this may be, the experience of having to rely on yourself
will serve you well. • Meet amazing people. Tired of running into the same people on campus
all the time? Studying abroad gives you the opportunity to meet people from all over the world.
It's also a great way to build interpersonal skills, as you'll be in a situation where you need to
befriend and interact with strangers who are quite different than you. • An amazing
opportunity to travel. If you study abroad, you'll probably have the opportunity to visit
neighboring cities and countries. • New course opportunities. Your new school undoubtedly
has courses that your old school does not. In addition, courses will offer a different cultural
perspective on subjects you've been studying back home. • Great résumé material.
Employers and graduate school committees will take note of an international study experience.
Studying abroad helps students become more mature, resilient, and interpersonally adept, and
all of these qualities are priceless in the workplace. • Technology makes communication back
home easier. Sure, you'll be homesick. But with email, IM, and reasonably cheap international
cell phone minutes, study abroad has become an easier transition away from home than it used
to be. • Learn about yourself and your own culture. When you stand outside of your culture
for a change, you get new perspectives on it and your role within it. You become a fish out of
water with the unique opportunity to look back into your tank. DRAWBACKS TO STUDY
ABROAD PROGRAMS • Culture shock. Prepare to feel overwhelmed, both when you
submerge yourself in another culture and when you return to your own. The surprisingly
difficult experience of coming back is called re-entry shock. The experience of shifting cultures
can make you more resilient, but is more difficult for some people than others. Be realistic with
yourself; if you don't think you're ready for this kind of experience, maybe it's not for you. •
Academic transfer issues. Study abroad credits may not transfer to your school or to your
major. Potentially, study abroad can slow down your progress towards graduation. Before you
make a commitment to study abroad, sit down with a qualified advisor and figure out what
problems you might encounter. Before you leave, find out which credits will transfer and which
ones will not. • Academic challenges. Consider the difficulties you may face learning to study
in a completely different environment, especially if your classes are in another language. If
you're not a strong student to begin with, study abroad may not be a good idea. • Money.
Can you afford to study abroad? In some cases, study abroad isn't much more expensive than
your own tuition and may be covered by financial aid. This isn't always the case, though. If
money is a concern, do some investigating. Study abroad scholarships are available. •
Separation from family and friends. Independence is a good thing, but so is maintaining
connections with your loved ones. If there are special circumstances at home, like a loved one
who is terminally ill, maybe this isn't the time for you to leave. • Separation from romantic
partners. An extended leave can put quite a strain on a relationship. • Interruption of
activities. If you are a college athlete or heavily involved in a student or community
organization, studying abroad may cause you to make some choices about your commitment
level. • Discrimination issues. If you are thinking of studying in a culture where people of your
demographic group are discriminated against or treated unfavorably, do your homework to find
out if studying there will be a good idea. Factors like gender, race, religion, or sexual orientation
may matter. Remember, your school has resources to help you make an educated decision
about whether you should study abroad and about what programs would most benefit you.
Contact the International Study Office (or similarly named program) on your campus and
investigate your options. Best of luck!
Almost every student around the world wishes to pursue his or her
education. However, every issue has its pros and cons. In order to
making a better decision, one has to explore different aspects of a
plan.

Studying abroad lets you experience things you have never faced them
before. It gives you the opportunity to communicate with different
people who have different religions and speak different languages. This
will improve your social skills. In addition, when you graduate from a
university in a foreign country, It will make you more prestigious. In
work life and in your personal life, It will bring more respect for you.
To them, you are a person who experiences a different world with
different inhabitants. Needless to say, this prestige will help you to find
jobs with more salaries.

On the other hand, when you leave your hometown and migrate to
another country to continue your study, some obstacles may show up.
For one thing, you must be away from your family and your intimate
friends for a while. No doubt, your relationship will fade away if you
don't try to keep in touch with them. Moreover, you are exposed to an
environment where everybody else acts and behaves different from
what you have learned before. They also expect you to express
yourself using their culture. Furthermore, your costs most likely are
higher and your income is less than in your country. Because you are a
foreigner to these new people, you barely find an appropriate job with
a high salary at first. 

All in all, going abroad in order to continue the education has some
advantages and disadvantages. After a thorough consideration of
merits and demerits of it, I decide to put all my vigor and pursue my
education abroad.