Why Study Abroad is Important: You’ll Have Cultural Experiences

Why Study Abroad is Important: You’ll Have Cultural Experiences
Unlike a short vacation, when you study abroad you have the chance to see what life is really like in another country. The encounters you have as you shop for groceries, ask for directions, or walk through neighborhoods will teach you more about a place and its people than any textbook or guidebook could. By going beyond the tourist stops, you will obtain personal knowledge of your new city, the people who live there, and perhaps even a bit of its history. Living like a local is one of the best ways to understand a culture.

If language acquisition is one of your goals, there is no better way to improve your skills than spending time among people who can teach you Naturally Speaking patterns, colloquialisms, and other earmarks of a native speaker. Immersion is great for language skills, and it will also teach you about the country from a personal perspective. Interacting with people and partaking in the daily rhythms of life in that country will give you rich, firsthand knowledge that can’t be found anywhere else.