lnternational student exchange programs involve exchanging students of one country or place, with those
of another country or place to complete part of their education there. A lot of people find these programs
very beneficial, while there are some people who do not approve of these. I believe that the educational,
personal and long-term advantages of these programs, to the teenage students, outstrip the
disadvantages.
There are many educational benefits of these programs. Because of international learning and knowledge,
students accept and understand different cultures and their perspectives. Secondly, as the students mingle
with the local people in another country, they get to learn a new language. They become aware of, and
adopt alternative, multi-faceted approaches to learning. They develop analytical and problem solving skills.
Students have enhanced interest in global issues, as well as a broader general knowledge.
At the personal level, the most noticeable change in returned exchange students in their enhanced self-
confidence and self-esteem. They become mature, as they get to confront challenges outside a familiar
comfort zone. They develop life-long friendships and also appreciate their home and family even more than
befo re.
ln the long run, students who go on to tertiary studies find themselves more comfortable in 'foreign'
environments. They have better job opportunities. This is because, prospective employers in almost every
field look favourably upon experience gained while living overseas and knowledge obtained of another
language and culture.
On the other hand, the most obvious disadvantage of a student exchange program is the cultural shock
that any student has to go throu8h. For instance, if a student from lndia has to shift for an exchange to
China and the vice-versa, it is going to be a big challenge initially. The student needs to be acquainted with
at least one of the official languages of the host country otherwise it would be difficult to stay there. Next,
the student has to adjust or compromise with the habits of the homestay family. Finally the time zone
difference is a big problem during the initial days in the guest country.
To sum up, there might be a lot of problems in another place for the teenage student, but it is an
opportunity that can change the students' life for the better. lt is altogether a good blend of educational
benefits along with personality development.
makkarlEL
lnternational
student
exchange
programs
involve exchanging
students
of one
country
or place, with those
of another
country
or place to complete part of their education there.
A lot of
people
find these programs
very
beneficial, while there are
some
people
who do not approve of these. I believe that the educational,
personal and long-term advantages of these
programs
, to the teenage
students
, outstrip the
disadvantages.
There are
many
educational benefits of these
programs
.
Because
of international learning and knowledge,
students accept and understand
different
cultures and their perspectives.
Secondly
, as the
students
mingle
with the local
people
in another
country
, they
get
to learn a new language. They become aware of, and
adopt alternative, multi-faceted approaches to learning. They develop analytical and problem solving
skills
.
Students have enhanced interest in global issues,
as well
as a broader general knowledge.
At the personal level, the most noticeable
change
in returned
exchange
students
in their enhanced self-
confidence and self-esteem. They become mature, as they
get
to confront challenges outside a familiar
comfort zone. They develop life-long friendships and
also
appreciate their home and family even more than
befo re
.
ln
the long run,
students
who go on to tertiary studies find themselves more comfortable in 'foreign'
environments. They have better job opportunities. This is
because
, prospective employers in almost every
field look
favourably
upon experience gained while living overseas and knowledge obtained of another
language and culture.
On the other hand
, the most obvious disadvantage of a
student
exchange
program
is the cultural shock
that any
student
has to
go throu8h.
For instance
, if a
student
from
lndia
has to
shift for an
exchange
to
China and the vice-versa, it is going to be a
big
challenge
initially
. The
student
needs to
be acquainted
with
at least one of the official languages of the host
country
otherwise
it would be difficult to stay there.
Next
,
the
student
has to
adjust or compromise with the habits of the homestay family.
Finally
the time zone
difference is a
big
problem during the initial days in the guest country.
To sum up, there might be
a lot of
problems in another place for the teenage
student
,
but
it is an
opportunity that can
change
the students' life for the better.
lt
is altogether a
good
blend of educational
benefits along with personality development.
makkarlEL