Study Abroad with Aquinas College

1. Gain Perspective

• About yourself
• About your major/minor area of study
• About your home culture
• About the world and how things interact and are related

2. Increase Cultural Sensitivity

• Through learning how to interact with you host culture
• Encountering different cultural activities and events
• Being open-minded and willing to engage to try and understand someone with a different culture

3. Language Skills

• Being fully immersed in the language can accelerate learning/language acquisition
• Grow in confidence and skills when writing or speaking
• Plenty of opportunities to practice language skills
• Host families are happy to help you learn the language and culture

4. Resume Builder

• Indicates flexibility, ability to take initiative, curiosity and resourcefulness
• Demonstrates willingness to engage cross-culturally, helpful when working on diverse teams

5. Experience New Things

• Try new foods
• Adapt to a different kind of lifestyle
• Attempt a new hobby
• Celebrate new holidays or ones you’re familiar with but in a different way

6. Increased Career Opportunities

• Internship opportunities abroad can lead to future work or a global network
• Language proficiency may be appealing/necessary for certain jobs
• Demonstrates willingness to engage cross-culturally, helpful when working on diverse teams

7. Expand Your Circle

• Develop friendships with other students from around the US and world
• Meet people in your future field of work, grow your network

8. Personal Development

• Gain independence
• Increased confidence as you overcome or adapt to cross-cultural challenges
• Learn self-reliance (and how/when to ask for help)
• Increased global awareness and cultural sensitivity

9. Hands-on Learning

• See and experience firsthand the things you learn about in the classroom through field trips and excursions
• Put skills (especially language skills) learned in the classroom to use through daily life or as part of an internship

10. See the World

• Experience new terrains, natural wonders, museums and landmarks in your host country
• Visit neighboring countries - as part of program excursions and/or individual trips