4 Reasons You Should Study Abroad

Léonard Cotte
Jul 20, 2017 · 3 min read

Whether it is for a semester, a year or your whole curriculum, going abroad for studies should be one of your priorities. Here are a few reasons to do so.

1. Leave your comfort zone and expand your horizon

By going abroad, you have to restart from the beginning, in an unknown place. It will make you grow up more than anything. You are in a new country, on your own. With potentially no one to help you. You’ve got to figure out everything by yourself. You have to find a place, find new landmarks, relearn to live, and adapt to this new place. You can take advantage of it to start new habits.

2. New culture

When you go to a new country, you experience a cultural shock. Always. There are no two countries with the same culture. Even in your own country, there are many sub-cultures, each with its own codes. And it takes time to understand them. You will see things, attitudes, ways of being, that are going to surprise you, in a good or in a bad way. Of course, you will compare with your own culture, your own country. But remember, no culture is better or worse than another. Accept these differences, enjoy them. Discovering these cultures is one of the best part of being abroad.

3. Language

Obviously, if you go in a country which language is not your maternal one, you will have to learn it. Sometimes, only a few words (when locals speak your maternal language easily). And other times, you will become fluent in this new language.
It is, of course, easier if you already know a bit of the language. If not, take classes!
Over your time abroad, you will experience a real improvement of your language skills. At the beginning, you may not be able to understand a single word, the accent is unbearable. Yes, it is frustrating. I mean, when you spend one hour in a class, and at the end, you haven’t understood a single word, it sucks. But with perseveration, progression happens inevitably.
After two months, you will understand a lot better, a lot easier. Even some thick accent. You will experience another two months without much progress (at least, you won’t feel so). And then, four months after your arrival, you will see that now, you understand pretty much everyone and everything.

4. New friends

The best part! You are going to make a bunch of new friends. Most of the time, international students stay together and are less in contacts with locals. Try nonetheless to befriend with locals. One easy way to that is by working with them in class projects. Whenever it’s possible, avoid staying only with people from your home country. Since you are abroad, enjoy it to make friends from other countries.
It is also a way to discover new cultures, new languages and new countries. As you are going through the same challenges, your friendships will be much stronger. And what a pleasure to stay in touch with them afterwards, or even go visit them in their countries!

Studying abroad will not leave you untransformed. You will get to know a new country, get new friends, and more importantly know yourself better. This last point is crucial. Having to live in another country is a life experience that will teach you a lot about others and about yourself: how much you can deal with a new environment, with new people, and about your ability to adapt to change.

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Léonard Cotte

Written by

Export Manager in the Healthcare industry

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