Home > Studying Abroad in China: A Guide for Parents > The Benefits of Studying Abroad

Today’s exchange students come from all backgrounds and walks of life, and have a wide variety of choices regarding where they will spend their time studying abroad. Spending time studying abroad is a realistic possibility for many students who would never have had the opportunity just a few generations ago.

Until the 1920s, opportunities to study abroad were generally limited to the children of wealthy parents who traveled in social circles well beyond the reach of the average family. Additionally, the vast majority of opportunities to study abroad focused on Western Europe, meaning that even those fortunate few who could study abroad were severely limited regarding where they could go to study.

Beginning in the 1920s, opportunities to study abroad were increasingly offered to American college students. The primary purpose for this was to help the students master a foreign language by immersing themselves in the foreign lifestyle and culture. As more people took advantage of the opportunity to study abroad, it became increasingly evident that there were many benefits to be realized from spending time studying in foreign countries. Consequently, more opportunities opened up, not only for college students, but high school students as well.

The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES) conducted the first large scale study of the effects of studying abroad on students’ lives. The IES surveyed students who had studied abroad from 1950 to 1999, decisively showing that there are, indeed, many benefits to studying in a foreign country, including:

• Greater interest in academic study. Students are exposed to many subjects in a foreign school which they would not have had the opportunity to study at home. Even when studying familiar subjects, those studying abroad glean the benefit of seeing the subject matter from a different cultural perspective.

• Language immersion. It’s one thing to study a foreign language in a textbook. It’s a completely different thing to be surrounded by those who speak the language on a daily basis. While studying a foreign language in any format is beneficial, there is simply no better way to gain fluency in a foreign language than to live amongst people who speak it. Not only does this help the student to gain a higher mastery of the language, but it also gives the language a cultural context which can be hard to grasp using a textbook alone.

• Personal growth. Those who have spent time studying abroad learn how to live in a different culture. That’s no small accomplishment. Not only does this broaden their horizons, but mastering the challenge of living abroad can also add greatly to their sense of self confidence.

• Broadened world view. One of the most profound benefits of studying abroad is the widening of the student’s perspective on life and the wide world. It almost goes without saying that this increases the student’s understanding of politics, international affairs, economics, and related subjects. It also gives the student a great deal of respect and appreciation for the host country. In many cases, it also results in an enhanced sense of pride and appreciation for the student’s own country.

• Interaction with different cultures. Those who have studied abroad regularly claim that their ability to interact with people from different cultural backgrounds improved.

• Career advancing skills. In today’s global marketplace, having studied abroad sets an employee apart and enhances career opportunities.

• Enhanced Résumé. Whether a student is applying to a graduate program, applying for a job, or seeking a promotion, having studied abroad can set his or her résumé apart from others. With competition for the best positions more intense than ever, both in academic and professional circles, anything that can make your student stand out in the crowd is highly beneficial.

• Focused career and educational goals. Many students return from studying abroad with a clearer picture of where they want to go with their academic and professional lives. This is especially true of those students who have taken advantage of volunteer and internship programs while studying abroad.

• Adventure. Students have a golden opportunity while they are young adults. The pressures of adulthood have not yet fully set in. This is the perfect time to broaden horizons and explore the world around them by traveling the globe. If there is ever a time to be adventurous in life, it’s now.

Next Step China has created the following guide to help parents feel comfortable about having their child study abroad in China. Please view the topics below for more guidance.

Studying Abroad in China: A Guide for Parents

The Benefits of Studying Abroad

Why and Where in China to Study Abroad?

Where to Start: Choose a Program for Studying Abroad

Is Next Step China the Right Study Abroad Program for Your Son or Daughter?

Student Responsibilities While Studying in China

Before the Student Departs: Preparing Your Student to Successfully Study Abroad in China

In China: What You and Your Child Can Expect

Other Opportunities While in China

What Life Will Be Like for Your Child While in China

Studying Abroad With Next Step China

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