Study Abroad: Language Doesn't Matter.

Anna Smoak

Studying abroad is promoted greatly here at the Georgia Institute of Technology, but not for the reasons you might think. While study abroad can increase your language proficiency immensely, if you so choose you could learn absolutely nothing about another language. Keeping that in mind, study abroad is important for so many other reasons, most importantly, growing up and becoming yourself.

According to he Study Abroad Research Group (SARG), students studying abroad speak their first language more than their second language. Also, students showed a gain in speaking the language, but less of a gain in literacy, or the ability to read and write that language. However, overall students who study abroad do improve in their second language if they choose to do show. A good example of this is the comparison between study abroad and other contexts, done by SARG.

Even more important than learning a new language is truly being on your own for the first time. While you are in college you can still call your parents for whatever you may need, and have them ship you items if you need something. Also you know how the culture works, so if you come across a problem you are likely to be able to find help. But in an entirely different country you are truly on your own. It is much more expensive to call your parents or ship items. And sometimes you may not know who to turn to when you encounter a problem. This will make you grow up real fast. For some students who are living in a fantasy world of being 'grown up' without all the burdens this can be the best wake-up call.

It goes without saying that there are endless benefits to study abroad, but above all do it to realize who you are, and what you are capable of, before you find out the hard way when there are real (specifically money) consequences. It could potentially the best choice of your life.