There is no doubt that going to study in a foreign country, with its different language and culture, can be a frustrating and sometimes painful experience. But while the overseas study has its drawbacks, the difficulties are far outweighed by the advantages. Indeed, people who go abroad to course open themselves up to experiences that those who stay at home will never have.
The most obvious advantage to overseas university study is real-life use of a different language. While a person can study a foreign language in his or her own country, it cannot compare with constant use of the language in academic and everyday life. There is no better opportunity to improve second-language skills than living in the country in which it is spoken. Moreover, having used the language during one's studies offers a distinct advantage when one is applying for jobs back home that require the language.
On a university campus, the foreign student is not alone in having come from far away. He or she will likely encounter many others from overseas and it is possible to make friends from all around the world. This is not only exciting on a social level, but could lead to important overseas contacts in later professional life.
Finally, living and studying abroad offers one a new and different perspective of the world and, perhaps most important, of one's own country. Once beyond the initial shock of being in a new culture, the student slowly begins to get a meaningful understanding of the host society. On returning home, one inevitably sees one's own country in a new, often more appreciative, light.
In conclusion, while any anxiety about going overseas for university study is certainly understandable, it is important to remember that the benefits offered by the experience make it well worthwhile.
There is no doubt that going to
study
in a foreign
country
, with its
different
language
and culture, can be a frustrating and
sometimes
painful experience.
But
while the
overseas
study
has its drawbacks, the difficulties are far outweighed by the advantages.
Indeed
,
people
who go abroad to course open themselves up to experiences that those who stay at home will never have.
The most obvious advantage to
overseas
university
study
is real-life
use
of a
different
language
. While a person can
study
a foreign
language
in
his or her
own
country
, it cannot compare with constant
use
of the
language
in academic and everyday life. There is no better opportunity to
improve
second-language
skills
than living in the
country
in which it
is spoken
.
Moreover
, having
used
the
language
during one's
studies
offers a distinct advantage when one is applying for jobs back home that require the language.
On a university campus, the foreign student is not alone in having
come
from far away. He or she will likely encounter
many
others from
overseas
and it is possible to
make
friends from all around the world. This is not
only
exciting on a social level,
but
could lead to
important
overseas
contacts in later professional life.
Finally
, living and studying abroad offers one a new and
different
perspective of the world and, perhaps most
important
, of one's
own
country
. Once beyond the initial shock of being in a new culture, the student
slowly
begins
to
get
a meaningful understanding of the host society. On returning home, one
inevitably
sees
one's
own
country
in a new,
often
more appreciative, light.
In conclusion
, while any anxiety about going
overseas
for university
study
is
certainly
understandable, it is
important
to remember that the benefits offered by the experience
make
it well worthwhile.