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Sarah Schalk Mr. Hackney Rhetoric 101 15 November 2013 Study: At Home or Abroad? In recent discussions regarding studying abroad programs in the Unites States, a controversial issue has been whether the opportunity is a good one for students to take advantage of or if it wastes time in ones educational path. One view is that studying abroad is not effective in providing an education. From this perspective, our country wastes time focusing on study abroad programs instead of receiving the education they should here and educators not spending time refining our own education system due to attempts to improve the out of country programs. However, others say that that studying abroad is not only an effective educational tool, but it is essential to a students education. Kenneth Buff explains that if a student does not take the opportunity to study abroad they are losing out on experiences that are vital for a successful future. My own view is that studying abroad is an important component to education. Though I concede that some claim that every student varies, so studying abroad is not effective for most individuals, I maintain that there are benefits present for everyone, even though the types of benefit may vary for each individual, so the opportunity should still be taken. Studying abroad, in its early stages, was started as early as the 1870s at Indiana University, but did not become widely known until around the 1920s (Wikipedia). Studying abroad was a program created to allow students to study in foreign countries by being immersed in the countrys or countries culture, language and different areas of study. The program became more popular in the years 2000 and 2001. Every year since, the number of students who study

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abroad increases every year. (Wikipedia). Students are able to not just study a different, unfamiliar place, but experience it for themselves for a better understanding and an expansion of knowledge and experience. Research shows that of students who have studied abroad, 96% feel increased self-confidence, 97% feel more mature and 98% understand themselves and their own values more clearly (Wikipedia). From these statistics it can be concluded that studying abroad has become an effective learning tool. In his recent work, United States Ambassador Curtis Chin commented on why he believes that students can receive a better, more effective education if they remain in the United States. He argues, I often meet Americans abroad who insist on searching out the nearest McDonald's or Starbucks, and who may well experience little of the culture or learn little of a foreign language while overseas. Chin claims that students who study abroad fall back on their same routines and practices just as if they are still at home. In this case, studying outside of the country seems pointless to him, if a student is not going to totally assimilate to the culture and day to day routines of the people who live in the different country they might as well stay here to study. Chin also claims that more focus needs to be placed on our education system before we should focus on one that is outside of the country because, by studying abroad there are students that have nothing to gain so their time is wasted. He states, Studying abroad can be a nice add on in theory, but it also can be a waste of time, or simply a good time, for an unfocused and privileged high school or university student. According the Chins views, the government wastes money that they put into study abroad programs instead of the United States education system, and all students who study abroad gain nothing that they could not get here in our country and waste their time and money.

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Although there is plenty of evidence one could use to support the thought that studying abroad is not useful and a waste of time, I believe that studying abroad is a very key component to college education and experience. Allan E. Goodman, is the president of Institute of International Education, and Stacie Nevadomski Berdan, is an international careers expert, in their article, "A Student Guide to Study Abroad, they write, Making study abroad a part of their education is the most effective and accessible means for students to develop needed skills because it pushes a student to get out of her comfort zone to experience another culture, language, environment and education system. Ive always believed that in addition to the education that is offered in our colleges and universities, a student can always learn more once they are pushed so far out of their normal environment in another country. The students are forced to immerse themselves into a new culture which can develop, like Goodman and Berdan wrote, skills that are simply not teachable. Not only is studying abroad essential for educational purposes but also for life experiences. In addition to the educational aspect of studying abroad, the program can also provide one with many experiences that teach people about themselves and one another. Violeta Rosales, a graduate student from the American University in Cairo, in her article, More Students Should Do It, wrote, Learning abroad allows students from various disciplines to see the U.S. from another angle, creating more informed global citizens. Experiencing learning in another country gives students the opportunity to see things from the perspective of different cultures and different walks of life. Students can learn from the customs and people of a foreign country in addition to actual courses they take in these programs. Rosales also points out, Students encounter other ways of living life and at the same time present a different image of the U.S. away from its foreign policy and military reach. By studying abroad our country and others can

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be intermingled together in order to provide more understandings of one another. Students who study abroad can not only learn from the new people they encounter but they can also exemplify different customs and practices specific to the United States as a whole or even themselves individually. This offers the opportunity for cultures to mix and grow with the help of one anothers knowledge and experiences. These findings have important consequences for study abroad programs because if people realize the numerous amount of benefits for students, in regards to both receiving an improved education and additional life experiences, more will see how this program is almost essential to ones college career. Many, of course, may want to dispute my claim that studying abroad has benefits that by far outweigh the opposition. There are those who will argue that the actual cost for these programs is not worth the experience. Curtis Chin argues, At a time of limited federal, state and local budgets and difficult financial choices, we need to keep in mind that learning success will be driven more by good, accountable teachers and by involved parents than by any study abroad program. Chin believes that the money of our students and government is not worth spending on study abroad programs because if students have a good support system at home they can receive an education that is suitable for getting the college education and experience that they need. Kenneth Buff, a graduate from North Oklahoma College, in his article, The Cost of Not Going is Real uses his research and own study abroad experience to argue in favor of the programs. Buff writes, There's no question, it's expensive. But it is an experience that can open doors, offer career possibilities that without studying abroad would be impossible. He explains how without studying abroad, one loses out on experiences that can create opportunities and successes that are not obtainable for just anyone. Many may argue against studying abroad due to the cost, but the cost is far outweighed by the benefits and opportunities that the programs offer.

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Studying abroad is becoming more and more popular throughout colleges and universities all over the United States. Any student planning on receiving a college career must make the choice of whether or not studying abroad is something that they should in fact pursue. In light of some criticisms, studying abroad offers benefits and experiences that are unmatched. For some they believe that cost is a large enough factor that makes the experience not worth while, however by not taking the opportunity to study and learn in a different country, one is costing themselves much more than a dollar amount can compare to.