Studying Abroad

Another contributing shifthappens Wiki member made an interesting argument about studying abroad. Jdmarrs was currently studying in Sweden and commented on how much he had learned about the cultures of the world from a foreign perspective. Normally just receiving an education in your home country, you get that one perspective and that is it. I agree with their suggestion that if more people were able to study abroad temporarily, it would allow for better international relations, compassion and a plethora of educational benefits both during and following their experiences. (Jdmarrs, 2007)

The "Did You Know 2.0" video suggests that the United States has one of the lowest graduation percentages behind the countries of India and China. All of the graduates in India graduate speaking English.  (XPLANE, 2007)

Have you ever had to take a foreign language at an institute of higher education? I know I have had the opportunity, but it is considered an elective, which is easily completed taking another course. In high school a foreign language was pretty much mandatory, but we could only choose from French or Spanish. I did go to a private school, but I know some of the public schools in the area had a few more to choose from. I know that colleges and universities offer much more of a variety, but I don't think many people take them for reasons beyond it being a choice in that section of their requirements. Perhaps schools should be altering their curriculum a bit to create a more positive path to taking these courses as a start. They of course won't give the same feel and experience as actually studying in those countries, but they would at least fair better with the above concern by taking a foreign language. It can only help the individual to be able to speak more than their native language in my opinion. Other countries have excelled here - why should we be lazy and fall behind?

jdmarrs. (2007). Shifthappens – World Education by International Collaboration. Retrieved from http://shifthappens.wikispaces.com/share/view/2001131

XPLANE. (2007). Did You Know 2.0. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U