Course:ACADEMIC WRITING

1st year, 1st semester, English Major, German minor

Academic year: 2017-2018
Tutor: assist. Prof. Costin Oancea

Assignment: Write a computer-based essay (6-7 double-spaced pages), Times New Roman,

12, justified, on ONE of the following topics. Give a TITLE to your essay. Pose a clear and

specific critical question raised by the selected topic. Present a clear and specific answer to

that question (thesis). Offer clear and specific evidence in support of your answer. Use of

least FOUR cited sources in support of your argument. Internet resources should be properly

documented, according to the indications given during the lectures. Books and journal articles

are preferred as quoted sources. Use the correct documentation style (MLA, footnotes).

Title: THE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE: THE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE

WORLD
THE STUDY ABROAD EXPERIENCE: THE KEY TO UNLOCKING THE WORLD

As the world becomes a bigger place to live in, we all become witnesses of its transformation

from a global village in a global city. Along with this change, people begin to evolve too.

Technology, economy, communication build its way into the future as well. But this is

impossible to achieve without knowledge. Not only knowledge already has become

inevitable, but also it has become an important tool that provides students a multicultural

experience. There is no better way to accomplish all this but with studying abroad.

Studying abroad can be thrilling and overwhelming at the same time. It can provide a

wealth of opportunities for developing your career, as well as it can be an unforgettable

experience with long-lasting memories. However, the transition from living home to living

abroad can bring an onslaught of worries too. Coping with the environment, managing

studies and meeting new people can all easily become stressful situations. It is quite a

difficult challenge, but it is not impossible to overcome.

Firstly, studying abroad gives the possibility to experience the world. Whenever you

have free time from the university you can always start crossing off things from your bucket

list like traveling. This is one of the many ways to suppress our comfort zone, to dive into the

unknown and to seek for our happiness. Being courageous and visiting unknown places can

open our mindset to the whole universe. Traveling enlivens our spontaneous and adventurous

spirit and helps us to get lost in the new mesmerizing destinations.

This experience it is not all about studying, but also about awakening our wanderlust.

Often these two things go together. In fact, Frank Herbert says, " The beginning of

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knowledge is the discovery of something that we do not understand ".1 In other words,

knowledge is found by exploring the world.

Secondly, the cultural benefits are boundless. The time spent in a foreign country can

open our eyes to the wider world. It can leave you fascinated by the urban environment and

the diverse cultural perspectives. Likewise, you will be amazed by the new cuisine, religion,

traditions and the social atmosphere. You will learn about stereotypes and laugh about the

presumptions that others have about your country and people. “ Paradoxically, you’ll learn as

well that people are more alike. This openness to different approaches should make you a

better problem-solver and team player. “2

A similar benefit is the ability to create a global awareness. Nowadays, a good

education is essential and can be found only in the global environment. It is necessary to

cross our paths with the language barriers and the national borders in order to be able to get a

greater understanding of the world. The American Association Society of University and

College comments,

“ Students must be prepared to live and function productively

in a business and social milieu of great cultural, economic and linguistic diversity. If

today's educated people are to be able to move comfortably in many different

cultures, they must have the advantage of a global education. They should be exposed

to other languages so that they can respect other tongues and abandon the arrogance

that claims everyone knows or should know English. They must spend time with

people of other races.” No matter what profession they choose, understanding other

1
<https://www.ukessays.com/essays/english-language/a-report-on-study-abroad-english-language-
essay.php?cref=1>. "A Report On Study Abroad English Language Essay." UKessays.com. 11 2013. All Answers
Ltd. 12.2017
2
Berdan,Stacie.“A student guide to study abroad“.Institute of international education,New York(2013).p.143

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 countries and ways of thought will make them more effective problem solvers and

leaders. “3

To put it another way, the massive cultural exchange and international education

provide the opportunity of interconnection, as well as an opportunity to discuss problems on a

global level such as overpopulation, global warming, racism, terrorism etc. “ The more you

raise global awareness, the richer the global knowledge will be. “4

Not only studying abroad awakens the respect for the multicultural environment, but

also helps strengthen and boost your skills that are needed in today's highly competitive job

market. This experience demonstrates to the employers that you are capable and well

qualified for the globalized workplace. For instance, before an interview for a certain job, the

employer always goes through the resume first. The resume reflects the candidates potential

and capacity to work for the firm. Those candidates that have listed studying abroad will have

a bigger priority for the job.

In the light of the research that has been made in 2013 in the USA, the statistics

indicate that 97% of study abroad students found employment within 12 months of

graduation and 100% had a greater improvement in the development of their interpersonal

qualities. That is to say, skills like communication flexibility, adaptability, responsibility and

many others gained through an international education are a valuable asset for your career

goals.

Another benefit from studying abroad is expanding your social network. Many

students find this terrifying and extremely stressful. Good-byes with friends and family are

hard enough, but not having with whom to share this incredible experience is even harder.

3
< http://globaled.us/now/fullstatementaascu.html#15>.”AASCU”.
4
<http://www.thebestplacestostudyabroad.com/rankingsmethodology/sevenbenefitsofstudyabroad/globalaw
areness/>.”Global Awareness: Study Abroad Benefits”.BestPlaceToStudy.com(2016)

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From personal experience, classmates can be intimidating especially if there is a language

barrier. But this shouldn't stop you in any way of making friends.

As part of your studies is collaborating and interacting with diverse groups of

students. This automatically will initiate building new relationships. For instance, just by

exploring the new environment or going to a bar or a mall you can find yourself bonding with

people. You will be surprised at the amount of the newly developed friendships. These can be

friends that you can visit, and therefore they can be the reason to travel more often. The favor

also can be returned by inviting them to your country. That way you can open their

perspectives to a different kind of view as they did with yours.

Having close personal friendships made abroad is definitely a valuable thing to

cherish. You never know if among your foreign friends is the future Elon Musk. That is to

say, it is always an advantage to have contacts around the world which can help you develop

your potential and therefore to develop your career. Wherever life takes you, all these

connections can be useful by opening your doors to unpredictable possibilities.

In my opinion, the greatest prosperity of a well-planned study abroad is the

improvement of our personality. Personal development can be an astonishing outcome. When

students meet other students they become aware of the diverse cultures and races. This

teaches them to live in peace and harmony, and for that reason it has a major influence on

their personal growth. Nothing can compare with being alone in a foreign country. Thus, to

be able to be flexible enough is another thing which will only make us braver.

Another fact of immense significance is the development of necessary qualities such

as confidence, independence, and maturity. Building confidence is all about facing challenges

and breaking barriers. “Strenght and growth come through continuous effort and

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struggle.“5.For instance, in the beginning, you will have no sense of direction. You will

probably won't have a clue how the public transport works, hence you will be forced to talk

to strangers and ask for help. This is only one of the many ways to gain the confidence that

everyone is in desperate need of.

Independence is a powerful tool that shapes our personality. It steers us in the right

direction toward realizing our dreams and visions. Students can often find themselves in

difficult situations in which critical thinking is crucial. Did you get on the wrong bus and

found yourself in a completely unfamiliar environment? You shouldn't panic. These kinds of

circumstances will teach you how to conquer any type of problem. As a result of this, they

will increase your self-reliance and self-determination.

Independence allows us to master a variety of skills too which can actually sound

silly but most of the students don't develop them until they are off to college. For example,

living on a budget will certainly teach us how to save money and be more responsible.

Furthermore, you won't be able to afford fast food all the time. On one hand, it can be

expensive while, on the other hand, it is extremely unhealthy. As a result, you are going to

have to learn how to cook, clean, do laundry ect.

The third and most important quality is maturity. Scientifically it is defined as a state

of our mind in which we have fully developed our personality. It is often said that maturity

doesn't come with age but it depends on the individual's actions. Psychology defines maturity

as an ability to respond to the environment in a certain behavior. This behavior is not

instinctive but it is learned through time. But how can studying abroad helps us in the

building of our maturity?

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< https://www.noobpreneur.com/2015/02/20/strength-and-growth-come-only-through-continuous-effort-
and-struggle-a-must-have-mindset-for-every-small-business-owner/>.”Strength and Growth Come Only
Through Continuous Effort and Struggle: A Must-have Mindset for Every Small Business
Owner”.Widjaya,Ivan(2015)

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 Maturity emphasizes the ability to be aware of the society we live in and what

surrounds us. When we are in our home country we have already been introduced to the usual

behavior and we act natural. However, when living abroad we have to think differently. We

must start adjusting to the new culture and start adopting our host country. A lot of actions

can have a different meaning in diverse environments. Should I great people by shaking

hands or a hug is enough? Is it polite to ask for another cup of coffee or I had enough? As a

consequence of this, we need to think twice before making a decision. All of these things are

extremely beneficial for our growth.

Another key thing to remember is that “ maturity is intercultural. It's not about

memorizing one set of social rules, but about learning how to adapt to new situations and

environments with ease.“ 6In other words, we build maturity by educating ourselves about the

world through observation and interpretation.

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< http://www.thebestplacestostudyabroad.com/build-maturity-during-study-abroad-6-ways-to-maximize-
growth/>.”Build Maturity During Study Abroad: 6 Ways to Maximize
Growth”.BestPlacesToStudyAbroad(2016).