For many years, schools in Europe have promoted travelling abroad to further their students’ studies and to improve their grades. This has been of benefit to many students, especially when learning a new language.
This is now becoming more popular in other countries and is opening up the world to more students who are looking to expand on what they have already learned, see history come to life, or talk to someone in their native language.
Being submerged in another culture that is vastly different from your own forces you to learn things such as language or culture quicker. It also gives you experience and allows you to learn more about a country’s history and people.
For example, you can learn conversational French in Paris, or how to make the perfect pasta dish in Italy. You can explore the ancient ruins in Greece or walk through the rainforest in Costa Rica. With the opportunity to explore the world, students can now learn more than a textbook can teach, make new friends, and see the wonders that other countries have to offer.
This can also help with college or university applications, proving that you are interested in the subject and providing you with a new perspective and understanding that you do not get from textbooks.
The Benefits of Studying Abroad
A textbook can tell you about events or things that happened, or it can explain how to form grammatically correct sentences and hold a conversation in another language. Textbooks can even take you through the steps to prepare your favourite meal.
However, there is something special about learning all these from experiencing interactions with the culture and people directly. Learning how to hold a conversation in the regional dialect with the locals can be more valuable than simply reading about it.
Some students have found that this immersion has allowed them to progress in their studies and understand the language easier and, therefore, start to speak it and understand it quicker. When they return home, their grades and studies continue to improve.
Case studies have shown that history students surrounded by ancient ruins, such as the Parthenon in Greece, are able to visualize the history that surrounds them and get a better understanding of how people lived, worked, worshipped, and what was deemed as entertainment.
English students are another example. Studying literature develops a deeper understanding of not only the author’s intentions in a book but also the political aspects of society and of the time in which the book is set. This leads to more complex answers on exams, thus showing a better understanding of the course materials.
Spending as little as two weeks in another country can vastly improve a student’s knowledge and understanding, leading to improved grades and a better educational experience.
Improved Academic Scores and Achievement
There have been several studies over the years into how students improve on a personal and social level, becoming more outgoing or more fluent in a new language.
However, until recently, there were no actual studies on the impact that studying abroad has on grades and GPA scores.
While many people see the benefit of students travelling to explore new places and see the world, there are now studies showing the advantages that this has on an academic level.
A recent study carried out by the GLOSSARI, the Georgia Learning Outcomes of Students Studying Abroad Research Initiative, has shown that students that get the opportunity to travel abroad are able to improve their GPA scores from 3.24 to 3.30. For students with an already perfect score, it is of course difficult to measure them. However, for the students who have been particularly struggling, they start to show vast improvements and get the most from travelling overseas.
This is also reflected in essay writing. In this case, the writing style of the student shows improvement in the way it’s structured, as well as in the evidence given to support and answer the question.
While studies are still ongoing, there is evidence that the students who get the opportunity to carry out their studies abroad do show improvement when they return and are able to explain and understand things in more depth than other students. Graduation rates have also been shown to increase and students are better prepared to go on to further education.
Many university programs are now looking more favourably at students who have travelled and studied in other countries, especially when it is in relation to the courses they are looking to take and their career choices.
Sending Your Child on a Student Travel Program
With student travel programs and dedicated teachers accompanying them, all students can benefit and improve their knowledge. Such programs assist students in the long term with applications to post-secondary institutions, and even in some work placements.
With Global Summers Academy, students get to travel to different countries with teachers who are extremely knowledgeable about the country that they are visiting and the courses they are teaching. Students can surround themselves in the culture, language, and history, and take learning beyond the textbooks.
Well-planned itineraries allow students to take in the sights, sounds, and smells of the local cuisine, dialects, and structure. They get to experience everything in a structured manner, allowing them to learn as much as possible in different ways.
Activities are designed to be interactive and excite the students, making learning fun. The students are encouraged to use what they learn daily, such as speaking in the local language, to help retain and develop their skills and knowledge.
There are programs from grades 9 to 12. With these programs, parents are able to stay in contact with their children and learn about what they are experiencing while away.
For more information about how Global Summers Academy can help your child grow and learn, contact us online or call 1-844-357-2621 and speak to an advisor about the programs available.
