Spring Break
Panel discusses benefits of studying abroad
Ya-an Chan
Issue date: 11/20/08 Section: News
A current student, an alumna, a professor and a career consultant shared their study abroad experience to show how it affects individuals personally, academically and professionally.
"It's more a general discussion of study abroad as opposed to the fair where we advertise particular programs," said Dave Rudel, the study abroad and exchange coordinator who hosted the event and a study abroad alumnus himself.
David Kuo, a junior Chinese major who studied in Japan and China, and Veronica Malki, an alumna who studied in Spain and France, were the first to share their stories to an audience of 10 people.
"I became more independent and organized," Kuo said. "I also learned how to live with another culture and another set of rules."
Taking 20 hours of classes per week is what Beijing University considers to be full time, he said, and he had to get used to the way classes are taught and the way students interact with teachers.
Malki said she was amazed to see how much people from other countries know about the world, and she learned that she was capable of more than she thought.
A student in the audience asked the panelists about going to a country with no language experience.
"Most universities we work with have language classes, and you'll be motivated to learn," Rudel said. "People are usually appreciative and patient just that you've made the effort to learn."
Other questions from the audience during the discussion included housing and interaction with other students.
Kuo said he still had a tremendous amount of interaction with other students in the program, even though he did not take the group flight to Beijing. Most campuses have international dorms, he added, but students may need to find their own housing depending on the dorm capacity of each school.
Andrew Fleck, an associate professor in English, is the faculty leader of the spring study abroad program to Bath, England. Jill Klees, a career consultant from the Career Center, said that when students start to think about how studying abroad relates to their career possibilities, it is important to know what skills they learned and how they can bring that added value to a corporation or an organization.
"It's more a general discussion of study abroad as opposed to the fair where we advertise particular programs," said Dave Rudel, the study abroad and exchange coordinator who hosted the event and a study abroad alumnus himself.
David Kuo, a junior Chinese major who studied in Japan and China, and Veronica Malki, an alumna who studied in Spain and France, were the first to share their stories to an audience of 10 people.
"I became more independent and organized," Kuo said. "I also learned how to live with another culture and another set of rules."
Taking 20 hours of classes per week is what Beijing University considers to be full time, he said, and he had to get used to the way classes are taught and the way students interact with teachers.
Malki said she was amazed to see how much people from other countries know about the world, and she learned that she was capable of more than she thought.
A student in the audience asked the panelists about going to a country with no language experience.
"Most universities we work with have language classes, and you'll be motivated to learn," Rudel said. "People are usually appreciative and patient just that you've made the effort to learn."
Other questions from the audience during the discussion included housing and interaction with other students.
Kuo said he still had a tremendous amount of interaction with other students in the program, even though he did not take the group flight to Beijing. Most campuses have international dorms, he added, but students may need to find their own housing depending on the dorm capacity of each school.
Andrew Fleck, an associate professor in English, is the faculty leader of the spring study abroad program to Bath, England. Jill Klees, a career consultant from the Career Center, said that when students start to think about how studying abroad relates to their career possibilities, it is important to know what skills they learned and how they can bring that added value to a corporation or an organization.
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