| Your education should not only give you the skills you | | | | meet an amazing array of new people. Everyone |
| must have to find a job; it should also broaden your | | | | needs new friends, and everyone should try hard to |
| world view. There are many different ways to do | | | | network now that it is more competitive than ever |
| this, from taking classes about different parts of the | | | | to get a job. Not only will you likely grow close to |
| world to participating in a particular group around | | | | the people in your program (you will be spending a lot |
| campus, but one of the most entertaining ways to | | | | of time with them, after all), but you will also get to |
| develop cultural awareness is to actually participate in | | | | meet people from many other countries as well as |
| a study abroad summer program. You not only get | | | | your host country. Many foreigners tend to gather at |
| to study abroad and pad your resume, but you also | | | | certain clubs and cafes, and this will give you a |
| get to have a great and memorable experience. If | | | | chance to make many new friends. |
| you ever have the opportunity to go abroad you | | | | You will expand your understanding of people's |
| should take it, and here's why: | | | | viewpoints. Each country has its unique culture and |
| You get to go abroad! Duh, right?! Think about it, | | | | values, and people's methods of interaction often |
| though: so many people live their entire lives in one | | | | vary greatly. Some countries like Russia value direct |
| large city or one small town. Often, the thought of | | | | communication, while others like Japan discourage |
| actually going abroad and seeing the world doesn't | | | | boldness. While you probably won't completely |
| even cross their minds, or if it does they let other | | | | understand another country's culture after only |
| things pin them down, keeping them from | | | | spending a few months studying there, taking part in |
| experiencing life to its fullest potential. For people | | | | a summer study abroad program will nevertheless |
| who do get to live life to the fullest, summer can be | | | | give you an amazing opportunity to learn about the |
| the perfect time to go. People are usually in high | | | | differences between our culture and another people's. |
| spirits, and your own college probably offers fewer | | | | If you have ever thought about traveling abroad to |
| classes. Why not participate in a study abroad | | | | study, go in the summer You'll have a chance to |
| program? | | | | experience a new culture, travel around a new place, |
| Summer is the perfect time to do a language study | | | | and perhaps make a lot of progress in learning a new |
| abroad experience. Is the foreign language | | | | language, but you won't be away from friends and |
| requirement of your school weighing you down? | | | | family for too long, nor will it interfere with your |
| Have you been dreading squeezing a Italian, Deutsch, | | | | regular classes. Just remember that some countries |
| or Korean class in between your engineering and | | | | experience traditionally warm weather at different |
| social economics courses? During a language study | | | | times of the year. For example, Chile's winter is |
| abroad program, you'll take about four hours of | | | | during June, July and August. It's much warmer in |
| language classes a day, and then have the rest of | | | | December and January, which is the opposite of |
| the time (excluding studying, of course) to explore | | | | someone living in the United States. So, if you are |
| your host country. Many programs make plans for | | | | looking to study somewhere warm, you might |
| trips and other activities as well to make sure you | | | | choose a country like Costa Rica that is tropical all |
| you get the most out of your time overseas. | | | | year long-as long as the program their meets your |
| although your focus may be on having fun, you'll still | | | | needs. However, if summer is just a convenient time |
| make great progress in your language studies during | | | | for you to travel, just choose a place that interests |
| your trip. Using the language in your day-to-day life | | | | you and you will have a study abroad summer |
| makes a huge difference in how quickly you learn. | | | | program to remember! |
| Study abroad courses also give you the chance to | | | | |