How to Have a Positive Study Abroad Experience

You've taken the first step—you're leaving family, friends and familiar ground behind to live and study in a foreign land. Congratulations. You've made a bold move forward, but don't stop there. Make sure you get the most out of your study abroad experience. Soak up as much of that new culture as you can.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

General Steps for Success

1. Get active. Talk to teachers or administration abroad about campus clubs. Find an activity you enjoy, such as a sport or music, and link up with locals who are into the same thing. A common bond is a great spark to a new friendship.
2. Take weekend trips. Now that you're an expensive plane ride from home, explore your new surroundings. Gain a broader perspective of the country or region by comparing cities, towns, landscapes and people. So, when you don't have to study, find a travel buddy to cruise by rail, bus, car or foot.
3. Eat. And, hey, maybe even cook! There is no better way to get a taste for culture and tradition than by sharing meals with locals. Ask questions about the food, be open to new experiences and bond over something we all share in common—food.
4. Hit the streets—on your own. Take time daily or weekly to go out and wander around your community. You are guaranteed to forge memorable moments abroad unexpectedly, and you will be more aware of your surroundings while alone. You'll also be forced to find your own way.

Steps for Learning a New Language

5. Carry a pocket-size notebook. Write down, with discipline, new words and expressions as you come across them. Study them at the end of the day and marvel at how quickly your vocabulary and cultural understanding blossom.
6. Listen up. Inundate your senses with the language: listen to the radio, watch TV and answer the phone. Absorb your target language while you can! Such easy access is a hard experience to come by (and expensive).
7. Isolate yourself from other English speakers as much as possible. Now, this may not be practical, depending on your study program. Nonetheless, flip-flopping back and forth with English will impair your ability to learn the new language. So, when possible, stay in your target language and hang with the locals—remember why you came all this way!

Tips & Warnings

• Be cautious when exploring on your own. Stay in public places and use your judgment when interacting with strangers. Have fun, but remember to follow the mantra: trust your gut. If something doesn't feel right, get moving!

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