[Liberal Arts #1] Study Abroad | Setting Goals for Short-Term Study Abroad

This content is for those who are considering a short-term study abroad program.

When taking on the challenge of studying abroad, many people first face questions like, "Is studying abroad fun?" or "Will my language skills really improve?"

Based on my two study abroad experiences, I will explain these two questions from my perspective. (*Please note that there is no single correct answer, so please take this as just one individual's opinion.)

In conclusion, studying abroad has both fun and frustrating aspects. Also, unfortunately, you cannot expect dramatic language improvement in the short term.

Therefore, I recommend a "different approach to studying abroad (changing your perspective on the purpose)."

The Purpose of Studying Abroad

I went on short-term study abroad programs to Australia and Canada.

Country: Australia (Brisbane)
Time: Spring break of freshman year of university
Duration: 5 weeks

Country: Canada (Kingston)
Time: Spring break of sophomore year of university
Duration: 4 weeks

At the beginning, I stated that "you cannot expect language improvement in the short term." So, what should you study abroad for in the short term?

The purposes of studying abroad that I consider are:

・Testing your own language skills at the study abroad destination
・Experiencing diverse cultures
・Acquiring cross-cultural communication skills

These are the three points. I will explain them in order.

Testing your own language skills at the study abroad destination

I will take an English-speaking country as an example.

Shopping, commuting, and time spent during a homestay—naturally, your daily life becomes communication using English as a tool. (English becomes your primary language.)

Therefore, I recommend the following cycle.

Step 1: Test how much the English you have studied in Japan works abroad
Step 2: Clarify the parts that worked and the challenges
Step 3: Brush up after returning to Japan

I strongly recommend being conscious of this cycle.

By testing your own English skills abroad, you will create "success experiences and failure experiences." Success experiences give you confidence, and failure experiences teach you your challenges. Once you know your challenges, you just need to study and overcome them after returning to Japan.

(Although I know it is not easy,) when you study abroad, please do not be afraid of failure and try to actively output the skills you have.

Experiencing diverse cultures

It is common for things that are taken for granted by Japanese people to be unusual abroad, and conversely, for things that are taken for granted abroad to be unusual for Japanese people.

At the language school in Australia where I first studied abroad, in contrast to the reserved Japanese students, the foreigners were all about talk, talk, talk! (even if their grammar was a mess).

Watching foreigners who were not afraid of making mistakes and who actively spoke repeatedly, I, then a first-year university student, felt that their "volume of output" was overwhelmingly greater than that of the Japanese students, and that this accumulation was likely what led to the improvement in their speaking ability.

People from all over the world gather at study abroad destinations with the common goal of "wanting to learn English." It is rare to find such a privileged environment.

By communicating with people from various backgrounds, you can learn about their culture, upbringing, and individuality. Also, traveling while studying abroad will surely lead to various discoveries.

Try talking a lot, taking action, and experiencing many different cultures. What you see with your own eyes and feel for yourself will surely become a great asset someday.

Acquiring cross-cultural communication skills

What exactly does it mean to acquire cross-cultural communication skills? Let me break it down a little.

What do you think is important for advancing projects smoothly in business or building relationships in your private life? Simply being able to speak the language is not enough to make things go well.

Isn't what's important to understand and respect the other person's feelings, and to think about and act on what will make them happy?

At your study abroad destination, please try to be conscious of "how to get along with foreigners from different backgrounds."

That experience will surely lead to "understanding and respecting the other person's culture and individuality," and will bring you closer to acquiring cross-cultural communication skills—in other words, growing into a person who can involve foreigners as well.

In conclusion

How was it?

I would be happy if this essay reaches those who are hesitant about going to study abroad and gives them even a little bit of courage.

I myself was full of both expectations and anxiety before studying abroad. But I told myself, "I don't want to regret not doing it," and decided to study abroad. (I am once again grateful to my parents for sending me off so willingly.)

During my first study abroad experience, there were many times when I struggled because I couldn't understand English as well as I wanted to, but now I can proudly say, "I'm glad I studied abroad!"

I am rooting for your challenge.