| TESTIMONIALS
FOR STUDYING ABROAD |
Transformational
Life Experience: "great," "unique," "amazing," "once
in a lifetime," "time of my life," "eye
opening," "life changing," "unforgettable," "fabulous," "worth
every penny," "chance of a lifetime," "best
adventure of my life," one of the greatest
educational experiences ever," "educational
but fun," "unsurpassed experience,"
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An experience that surely will
affect any student's life and something to look
back on with fond memories. • One of the
greatest education experiences I have had. • The
friendships that were formed and the learning
that took place was way beyond my expectations. • Once
in a lifetime experience--to understand different
culture, attitudes, people, locations, monuments,
old cities; it was amazing. • It really
changed my outlook on life and myself perception.
If I can handle Europe on my own I can do anything.
It will make the world a smaller place and you
a bigger person.
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| Impact
on View of World Issues |
| • Learned
how the values of a culture impact the culture's
management of their natural resources (Belize). • Belize
trip expanded view of different ecosystems around the
world and how unique and important tropical forest
of Central America are. • Academically, study
abroad brought new meaning and context to things I
have learned in the classroom and from textbooks. |
| Impact
on Cultural Perceptions |
•
I gained so much culture and learned about
different places and people. • In
two months in Spain learned a lot learned about other
cultures. • I
feel I am more informed and culturally aware about
the world at large. • Now
understand more about French culture, what is important
to them, how different America is from Europe, what
we take for granted as luxuries the French would hold
dearly.• Developed a great appreciation for Costa
Rican culture. • Guatemala allowed me to experience
a world completely different from the U.S. • The
people you meet in Spain make an impact, so that upon
return, you realize how the cultures are so different
and you gain respect on a national level. • Go
for a full year to experience the culture to its fullest. • It
is an incredible experience to be completely immersed
in another culture completely different from your own. |
| Impact
on Learning a Second Language |
•
My Spanish improved incredibly within a few
days
and in 4 weeks the change was phenomenal. • In
two months in Spain learned a lot of grammar, really
practiced speaking Spanish. • I
was forced to communicate and use the Spanish I was
learning. In New Mexico there are many opportunities
to use Spanish, however it is very easy to lapse
into English. In Ecuador this wasn't an option. It
was fun
because I could see my progress in daily activities
such as going to the market or catching a cab. • Immersion
really does work! • More confident in learning
Spanish. • Learned more Spanish in 8 weeks
in Costa Rica than I learned in 4 years in college. • ...fun,
interesting, only way to really learn another language. • ...forced
to use what you learn and that makes the experience
challenging yet fun. • Learning-wise I learned
so much more Spanish than taking classes at the University.• I
learned more Spanish there in a month than I did
in two semesters at NMSU. • ... ultimate
way to learn Spanish and open your mind. • I
always struggled at my university with language and
never thought it possible for me to learn a language
until this program. It is very flexible meaning you
start and stop when you want and you learn so much
very quickly (Distance education student studied
in Chile). • I
don't think I would have ever had understanding in
Spanish with this experience. • Nice to learn
Spanish different from that spoken in Mexico. • I
gained self confidence and had an incredible time. It
is also a more efficient way to learn a different language. |
| Opportunity
to Earn Credits while having fun: |
• I
would recommend study abroad because you can
get credits and a special fun, different experience
at the same time. • It
is a privilege to be able to earn college credit
for doing something like this.
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| Impact
on education
and professional career: |
•
Helped me get a tutoring job with mid-school
and high school students in Spanish that pays
well. Also helps in pursuing my job career.• Will
always be able to relate business practice
back to Lyon, France, to compare U.S. business
practices
with France. • Since I want
to be a bilingual kindergarten teacher, my
two months in Spain put me one step closed
to my goal. • Before
visiting Tokyo I was considering the possibility
of maybe
teaching in Japan. Now I am positive I will
return after obtaining my masters. • I
experienced in London what I had only read or
talked about in classes, and for a theatre student
it was great. • It has made me more focused
on my academic career so I can experience more
like this trip to the UK. • Studying
abroad gives you a new knowledge of another country
that you could not acquire in a classroom. |
| Opportunity
for Travel and making friends: |
•
Get to travel, meet people, learn about yourself. • I
met many people from all over the world who
have traveled a lot, which made me want to
see more of the world. • You
meet a lot of people and you travel a lot. • I
gained so much culture and learned about different
places and people. I saw much of the world
that I would never have seen. I also met so
many new people . People were really nice and
the families were all very involved and nice.
|
| Expanded
world view: "taste of real world," "think
out of the box," "opened eyes to
new opportunities," "appreciate luxuries
we have in US." |
• The
experience of getting a feel for daily life
in Japan,
the different aspects of history and politics,
was an experience I will never forget. • Appreciate
the luxuries we have in terms of basic amenities
such as hot water and utilities. • I
met some great people that opened my eyes to
see outside of the box that Americans live
in. • You get learn about life and culture
outside of America. • I would recommend
just to see that other parts of the world operate
differently. • I would encourage everyone
to go study abroad since it is a great experience
that teaches you many things about life, the
world, and also more about yourself. • ...
Necessary to get a "world view" and
understand one's place as a world citizen and
as an American. • Appreciate I live in
a country without bars on windows and doors
and neighbors one can trust. • Seeing
all the poverty in India has changed me. • Being
in Tokyo allowed me to let go of my romanticized
Western preconceptions
and to see Japan as a real place, far better
and more breath taking than I had ever imagined.
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| Impact
on personal growth: "learn
a lot about yourself," |
•
Became more confident as a person: I can rappel
down an 80 meter waterfall, raft down class 4
rapids in Rio Pacurare, and zip line over the
rainforest going 50 miles per hour, so
I feel like I can
do just about anything. •
It was great to experience being the "foreign
guy" and having people be so understanding
about my inabilities.• I
have gained independence by going to Europe myself,
have more confidence now. • I am a small
town kid and to see a large city (London) and
experience another country was fun. I learned
to be more assertive, because before I was scared
to try to new things, but after a week I learned
to be more willing to try anything. • Studying abroad, especially alone,
allows you to discover what you are capable of
and know yourself 100% better. I went alone,
not knowing anybody, and left with great new
friends from around the world. • Learned
about who I am and what I value in life. • Great
experience to expand the mind and social understandings. • It
is amazing how much knowledge you gain by studying
abroad not only what you learn in the institution
but what you learn from the culture and viewpoints
of other people. • It
is a great growing and self learning experience. • This
experience opened my eyes and made me stronger. • It
is experience that can only be explained if you
do it yourself.• You
test things about yourself you've never challenged
before. • I discovered a lot about myself
and my personal limits. • Helped me realize
I can live on my own because I have always been
close by and dependent on family or others if
I
needed anything.
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