Dayton Daily News education reporter Scott Elliott writes about schools, kids, teaching and learning.
Home > Blogs > Get on the Bus > Archives > 2005 > December > 03 > Entry
It’s cheap to study abroad
I’ve taken my own advice this weekend and gone to Harvard to attend the Nieman Narrative Writing Conference.
On Friday, Harvard University President Lawrence Summers spoke, and it was clear we agree about the value of learning a foreign language. Summers after Sept. 11, 2001. the need for Americans to understand the world better was clear. In fact, he said there has been a huge influx of Harvard students taking Arabic. And Harvard’s goal now is to guarantee that every undergraduate has a meaningful study abroad experience.
Recently, I was talking with Dayton Daily News business reporter (and blogger on the Motherhood blog) Shannon Neal about her study abroad experience.
Here’s what she had to say:
“For the vast majority of locations, it’s actually CHEAPER for students to study abroad than it is to stay at home, especially in Europe. Most other countries heavily subsidize their universities, and the tuition is much less. Even when you consider housing, money for travel, etc., most students, especially those at private schools, usually come out ahead.
Also, many schools will transfer student aid to cover a semester or year abroad. When I was in Spain, I met students from all over Europe who had their study abroad expenses paid for by their government as an inducement to take the time to get to know their neighbors. If only the US had this kind of perspective.
If you’re ever looking for someone to sing the praises of study abroad, let me know — I can go on for days. This is how I typically summed it up:
“Most people describe studying abroad in two ways, either as the best part of their college experience or something they always wish they had done.”
I’m in the first category — I walked away from an editing job at the student newspaper to go to Spain and never once regretted my decision. It changed my life and my view on just about everything.”
Permalink | Comments (1) | Categories: Foreign Language and Study Abroad
Comments
By Mary
December 3, 2005 7:44 AM | Link to this
I believe it is important for Americans to study other cultures and languages - even before they study abroad so they are literate about the culture. As a parent, I would be reluctant to send a child to study abroad until assessing their personal safety, the management of the particular study abroad program, accommodations and the maturity of the student. In some countries, the students might be a target because of their American ties or their immaturity. As I recall, some local students did not return back home alive. (My other name is “Debbie Downer” from Saturday Night Live.) Actually, my son is studying in another country now. I still worry. I am a mom.