Learning Abroad

Study Abroad Pre-Departure Orientation

1. What are you required to learn?

2. What do you expect to learn?

Learning
Abroad

3. What do you intend to learn?

4. How will you learn?
5. How will you know you have learned?
6. How will you share what you have learned?

Personal
self-awareness

Cultural
self-awareness

Awareness of
culture,
geography,
socioeconomic
and political
systems

What are you required to learn?

What do you expect to learn?

What have I gained from my experience?

Cultural Understanding and World View:
As a result of my international experience(s), I have developed:








A greater knowledge about another culture

Awareness of political, economic or social events around the world
My interest in global or transnational issues
My involvement with a global issue
A definition of my political views
My ability to speak a foreign language

Personal Growth and Values

My international experience(s) have helped me to grow and develop:

 My desire for more diverse friendships and social networks
 My desire to further my education (e.g., postgraduate degree)
 A better understanding of myself and my values
 My sense of confidence in new situations or when meeting new people
 My ability to accept differences in other people
 My ability to empathize with people, especially those who are different from me
 My ability to be more flexible and open-minded
 My tolerance of ambiguity in a variety of situations
 An understanding of my own strengths and weaknesses
 My ability to be independent
 My ability to take initiative
From Hubbard, A., Kaltved, D. & Durham, R. (2015). Marketing Your International Experience A workbook for students preparing
for the job interview process, AIFS.

What do you
intend to learn
and
experience?

Learning happens outside of your comfort

zone.
Cognitive dissonance: experience internal conflict

Set some goals

Make a pledge

IMMERSION
INTERVENTION
REFLECTION

How will you

learn?

61 programs
2003-2007
1159 students abroad, 138 nonstudy abroad participants
Vande Berg, M., Connor-Linton, J.
& Paige, R.M (2009) The
Georgetown Consortium Project.
Interventions for student learning
abroad. Frontiers: The
Interdisciplinary Journal of Study
Abroad, 18, 1-75.

REFLECTION

Journaling
Blogging
Discussions

 Track your progress

Global Learning

How will you

know that you
have learned?

Intercultural Competence

How will you

share what
you have
learned?

Who will your share your experiences with?

With your family
With your peers
With your professors
With a prospective employer

Love maps?
Map out your journey with Story Map

REFLECT
&
SHARE

Love visual media?

Create a video to tell your story with
Digital Storytelling

Are you the social media type?

Tell your story through social media
Create a group Facebook page, tweet your
impressions, create a gallery in Pinterest

Love writing?
Start a blog in Wordpress or Tumblr or create a
group website for everybody in the trip. Here are
some blog examples.

Here are some eportfolio samples. Click around and discover what an eportfolio can do
for you:

REFLECT
&
SHARE

It showcases the best of your

work

Allows you to reflect on your

experiences abroad
Here is what I learned abroad

Gives a professional Impression

I am mature. I am ready

Gives a personal Impression

I am a global citizen

REFLECT
&
SHARE

Allows you to showcase your

academic work
I am a serious student

Allows you to showcase who you

are beyond your transcript
I am more than a piece of paper

Employers are willing to use

eportfolios for hiring purposes.

80 % of

Employers
views on
ePortfolios

employers say that,

when evaluating a
job candidate, it
would be very or
fairly helpful for
them to have
access to an
electronic
portfolio.

Hart Research Associates. 2015. Falling Short? College Learning and

Career Success. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges and
Universities. Full report available at http://www.aacu.org/leap/publicopinion-research/2015-survey-falling-short.

Employers are more interested in skills than in specific

majors.
93 % of employers say

Employers
views on Skills

that a demonstrated
capacity:
to think critically
communicate
clearly
and solve complex
problems
is more important than a
candidates undergraduate
major.

7%

Agree
Does not agree

93%

It Takes More than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and
Student Success. 2013. Washington, DC: Association of American Colleges
and Universities and Hart Research Associates. Full report available at
http://www.aacu.org/leap/presidentstrust/compact/2013SurveySummary

ePortfolios allow you to showcase highly valued job skills.

Showcasing Skills
As you discuss the skills gained
through your involvement in
international organizations or
study abroad, you can
generate narratives that will
prepare them for future job
interviews.

Situation

Task

Action

Results

The How To of Helping Students Incorporate Their International Experience Into the Job Search and Interview Process Ann Hubbard. M.A.,
Vice President AIFS, Director, University Relations for Customized Programs and Academic Assessment and Darren Kaltved. M.Ed. Assistant
Director Career Services, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota.

Personal
Growth

Immersion

Academics

Reflection

Learning
is on you.
Take
OWNERSHIP!

Ownership

Self-assessment

Awareness of
learning process

Self-authorship

Connect learning