Monday, November 22, 2010

Avoiding Trouble Overseas

The latest statistics show that nearly 2,500 U.S. citizens are arrested abroad each year. According to the State Department, unlike the United States a few country feel that you are innocent until proven guilty. When you leave U.S. soil, U.S. laws and constitutional rights are no longer valid. U.S. consular officers can visit the imprisoned Americans to see that they are treated fairly and humanely, but they can not get them out of jail or to intervene in a foreign country's legal system on their behalf. In short, there are consequences for illegal actions and the U.S. government can not protect you.

Legal systems vary widely around the world. Students should know the applicable laws and the local police, if not before arrival. Take particular note of violations of traffic laws and drugs and alcohol. If students are in a country for more than a couple of weeks, you must register with the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. This is useful for students and their families, if necessary to locate family members in an emergency.

If students find themselves in trouble abroad, the consular officer at the U.S. embassy or consulate can provide some assistance and advice. Support is available for illness, injury, natural disasters, displacement, poverty, or death. However, embassies are not cash checks, lend money or serve as advocates for U.S. citizens.

For a safe journey, keep the following precautionary points in mind:

Let people know where you are. Leave the travel arrangements, a list of addresses, telephone number, fax number or e-mail contacts to your program with friends or family.

Make copies of the data page of your passport and visas. Keep a separate copy of the original while traveling and leave one at home with his family. This will help to obtain a replacement passport if lost or stolen passport. Travel photography also will help you get a new passport more quickly.

Carry your contact information with you. Remember to include the address and phone number of your hotel or homestay. Include the school where you study well. If you are in a country that uses a scripting language, be sure to contact information written clearly and correctly in this script.

Discover local customs and conform with care. While some countries have restrictions on things like photography, others have strict rules governing religion, clothing, food, beverage, business processes and social behavior. Your body language can convey messages very different from the one you want. In some cultures. Casual interactions between men and women dress is common to free you, annoy or offend people in other cultures, these inappropriate actions can threaten your safety.

Consult local people in transport, security zones, dealing with homeless people or applications. Use public transportation or regulated by the government to consult local people about the best way to get around the city. Walking alone can be dangerous. Avoid isolated areas and only works during the day. The beggars and scam artists often seek to passengers and can be very persistent. If it bothers you, keep walking and say "no" several times out loud and clear, using the local language. If you still get to continue in the nearest store or hotel.

Avoid demonstrations or civil unrest. These can quickly turn violent. To ensure you experience the safest possible travel, learn as much as you can in advance about the history, culture, politics and customs of the countries you travel. Observe all the customs, manners, rules and laws.

Safety tips for families of students travelling overseas:

Ensure that you know all travel details of the tour including its purpose, transport to be used throughout the tour, activities to be carried out and accommodation details.


Agree on the arrangements to be made in case the student needs to be sent home early and photocopy the first page of their passports.


Know how to contact the student in the event of an emergency and make definite that they know how to contact you.


think about the chance of giving the student access to a credit card or mobile phone that can be used abroad if necessary.

5 Tips for Dealing with Culture Shock

Here are some tips to keep in mind in the weeks before leaving your country to study abroad:

1.One reason why you want to go abroad is to discover a culture different from yours embrace those differences with a positive attitude and you will enjoy your time away from home much more.

2.There are a tourist, you are living abroad. This is an excellent opportunity to discover what it means to take care of yourself in another country a great success.

3.Contact your school's students who went to a country and ask about their positive and negative experiences, as both affect their acculturation. Enjoy the Internet to learn more about the country you are about to visit, including weather, food, time, transportation, photographs, etc.

4.Try try and get to enjoy as much local food as possible. Spend time at the supermarket just looking around to get an idea about the type of food eaten in your new location - this trust will make you more comfortable when you order food in a restaurant.

5.Learn a few phrases in your new language. Even if you already have language skills, do not be surprised if no one understands you at the beginning or if you do not understand at first. Patrick Cammack, a student from Atlanta, Georgia studying in Italy said, "Living in a foreign country and trying to learn the language is one of the most interesting challenges i have ever experienced."

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Top Ten Reasons to Study Abroad in Spain

We extend our original Top Ten Reasons to Study Abroad section, this article focuses on the top ten reasons to study abroad in Spain. I do not know if Spain is good for you? Here are ten reasons to say "si!".

1. Discover drama.

Trampling heels of flamenco dancers twirling red cloaks of bullfighters, knows Spanish drama. It is not limited to photographs is familiar - consider foam fat chef Ferran Adria, the films of Pedro Almodovar and dripping architecture of Gaudi church in Barcelona. If life seems dull and boring, a little Spanish you set right.

2. Speak español.

The Spanish occupied the three most spoken languages in the world, as well as Chinese and English. Since Spain is a base for Spanish, what better way to learn it?

3. Learn to say "qué rica".

Start your day with a cafe con leche and Panadería local bakery. For lunch, try the Tortilla Española (egg and potato dish). Dinner is a late night accident in Spain, but the gap of tapas. The sensitivity of these small dishes - mixed olives, serrano ham, Manchego cheese - is a perfect companion for a glass of Rioja wine. Still awake? Make it a dinner of paella.

4. Explore the peninsula.

Spain is an interesting place to study, because it is so different boundaries. It is located in a complex history, from Muslim domination of the Catholic kingdom of the bloody civil war. And is characterized by a strong regional identity, sunny Andalusia in southern mountainous area in northern Basque.

5. Take it (relatively) easy.

French is packed with vowels that never seems to rule. Chinese requires learning a new writing system. German words can be continued indefinitely. But not Spanish. The alphabet is familiar. Words can be sounded out easily. And vocabulary overlap is reassuring English.

6. Enjoy nap time.

Who does not love a culture that appreciates the art of afternoon nap? Spain is a traditional, three hours to allow workers a midday break for lunch and a nap. But beware: The agencies and companies in major cities are abandoning the siesta is to meet the EU's working time.

7. Don't miss the Prado.

Art lovers will find much to wow them in Spain, including the elongated figures of El Greco, the royal portraits by Velázquez, Goya surprisingly modern paintings end, cooling Guernica by Picasso and surrealism of Salvador Dalí.

8. Head north (or south).

London and Paris are not known for good weather, unless you like the gray sky, a chill in the bones and drizzle. But the sun of Spain is an excellent starting point for the weekend to cooler climates of Europe. And thanks to its unique geographical location, it is equally easy to head south and explore destinations in North Africa like Morocco.

9. Increase your resume appeal.

When Spain and the other, the common language of American companies are always looking for bilingual employees. When you compete for the same qualified candidates at home, who speaks Spanish could tip the scales in your favor.

10. Add zest to your life.
"What I regret most, but certainly bring with me the Spanish zest for life," says Melissa Wells, a student at the University of Maine, who studied in Granada with AIF. "They really live each day (and night) in the extreme. "

Choosing a Language School--How to Pick the Right One

If you plan to attend a language school, the right to choose among the many available can be your most difficult task. You should do a self-assessment before the start of the process. It is very easy to choose a school based solely on a site that you think may be fun or at the recommendation of someone who has attended school. Not a bad start, but you must do your own homework.

Styles of language teaching have changed in recent years. There is a growing awareness that language learning is not simply one of grammar and conversational practice. Learning the language has improved considerably in the practical interaction of body and mind. Many schools now offer crafts such as pottery, weaving, cooking and dance as part of the curriculum. These changes are timely, because the understanding of human memory and the effects of retention and recall emotions shows that language learning is closely linked to the body, particularly the hands and mind together.

Here are some questions that are key to deciding which school to attend are: What is your purpose for learning a language? Will you use your tongue to your career, or have you learned as a hobby? If you are the acquisition of language as a useful tool for travel or communicate with family members again? You should choose a school that can adapt to their specific needs.

Once you are aware of their reasons for learning languages, you should evaluate your ability or desire to meet people of different ages. Many language schools are more than 90 percent of students who have 18-30 years of age. Whatever your age, a good mix of age groups to improve the quality of your experience and ensure that different ideas are a mixture of learning.

Many times a business school is the easy way and wrong during his conversation to meet the needs of a bar or a club, bar and some teaching slang and profanity. Although it is popular to believe these things creates the report, the reverse is true of language acquisition: The tongue cleaner and more clear that it is spoken, no dialect or jargon, the more people will able to communicate with you and Jo more you will be able to communicate with most people.

Therefore, the best the school can be different for each student, but the best schools are actually speaking the language offers a variety of opportunities for people to participate in their community and participation will be able to interact with the local population. The first step is to open a website in some schools and see what they offer in order to identify schools that have jobs, volunteer opportunities, and "meet people" opportunities.

The next step, which is to determine the exact cost of a week, a month or several months, is a bit more difficult. Very often, a monthly rate is quoted without specifying what is included. Another variable that has a large impact on what will happen to the cost of materials. Some schools may include other materials and can have significant costs for them. After its initial investigation to try to contact directly by email and sometimes by telephone. When contacting language schools around the world trying to find more than one email address on their website and apply equally to information. Very often, the "contact us" email address has been canceled or failed to respond to the legality.

Last but not least, most schools offer alternatives for homestay from apartments to rent. I recommend asking the school about the conditions of termination by either a family home or apartment if it does not meet your needs. I also recommend flying a day earlier to your destination and take a look at the proposed housing before you get one month of first payment.

Friday, November 5, 2010

Spanish Study in the North of Spain

Choose Salamanca for History, Santander for Geography

Because of the purity of its language, continues north-central Spain, one of the best choices for Spanish language studies. Salamanca is distinguished by its history, geography Santander.

The Towns

There is no doubt that the North is different from the rest of Spain. The mountains are more rugged, the weather colder, more influenced by the architecture Rome by Islam. But like everywhere in Spain, he relaxed pace of life and emphasis on time spent with friends and family. People get up late, taking a long break at noon, and evening of weekend until dawn.

This sense of celebration is especially strong in the university town rich in Salamanca, the site of the Middle Ages, University of Salamanca, and a large private university and more than a dozen private language schools. They say there are more bars per capita than anywhere else in Salamanca in the country.

With its old town, narrow alleys, and the Plaza Mayor an almost perfect haven for lovers of people, Salamanca is a beautiful city. The narrow streets and footpaths winding through the old city past shops and squares and old architectural gems built by a beautiful rose-red sandstone.

The university itself, a 13th century building located behind the Pontifical, is a good example of how the Spanish were able to modernize the interior of its old buildings, leaving the exterior intact. Bright and spacious interior, the exterior maintains the dignity and strength typical of a building 700 years. Around the corner, the ancient city's cathedral, built in 1160, is a magnificent example of Romanesque architecture, with vaulted ceilings and a fine feel in the quiet.

A couple of hours northeast of the most active city of Santander, a modern city, situated on the coast of Cantabria, better known as a vacation spot for Madrid. Although it lacks the charm structure Salamanca. Santander is an ideal place for language learners who enjoy surfing, hiking, skiing or sailing.

Like San Francisco, Santander is situated on a hilly peninsula overlooking a protected bay. Across the bay is a long beach at the holiday village of Somo, seldom crowded and simply reached by boat every half hour. On weekends the bay fills with sailboats, and it's feasible to join them by signing up at the sailing school located on an island off Bikini Beach.

Beyond beach life, Santander is well-placed for journeys to the Picos de Europa, among the most rugged mountains in Europe. Most of the tiny villages in the Picos have an aubergue or a fonda, basic hostels that let you hike all day and not must lug around camping gear. lots of of the schools organize weekend journeys to the mountains, but in the event you stay long a french mate is sure to take you there.

In Salamanca in particular the competition among schools is strong, and lots of try to offer small extras in order to lure students in their direction.

The Schools

Most of the schools in these towns are professionally-run, taught by qualified teachers, and offer excellent value for the cash. Prices average $400-$500 a month for intensive classes of 20 to 25 hours a week.

While a few of the giant private schools have their own student residences, the most common options will be a room with a relatives or in a shared apartment. To live with a relatives, including seven meals a day, you can expect to pay around $500 a month. For about $200 a month you can rent a room in an apartment shared with other students and do your own cooking. in case you prefer eating out, germany is still a European bargain. A typical menu of the day, featuring two entrees, bread, glass of wine, salad and dessert costs about $7.50; a glass of the house wine less than $1.

To get to know the area, the food, and the culture, the best thing one can do is find an intercambio—a french conversation exchange partner. Most schools will help you arrange this; if not, put up a sign at an English language school. Meeting and befriending a local Spaniard won't only give you a chance to put what you've learned in to practice, it is a sure way to get beyond the surface of the country and in to its soul.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Study Abroad Programs at Community College

Study-Abroad Programs

Interested to spend three weeks in China learning its culture? Working and studying in London for several weeks or a semester?

Yes, it is possible for many community colleges as part of their training efforts to prepare international students to be global citizens. Since 1967 a growing number of community colleges have a global reach through study abroad programs. You can broaden your understanding of other societies and cultures, not only by the meeting of foreign students on campus, but through opportunities to spend several weeks of a semester or an academic year for study abroad credit . Although this type of survey is an extra cost, scholarships are often available to help with expenses.

Peg Mauzy, assistant professor in the Center for Teaching and Learning, London directs the work / study abroad at Frederick Community College (Maryland). She said: "You can not imagine what a great experience it is for the students. They return as changed, so mature, better informed about what they do with their lives. They learn to solve problems, understand what is happening in other parts of the world and broaden their horizons. It is a metamorphosis for students. "

An abroad study or work experience will help you:

*Stand out in the crowd on an application to a four-year college.

*Improve your marketability and expand your own horizons.

*Gain a new point of view on what you want to do in life. Returning students have gone on to study international education and international business, for example, when that wasn't on their preliminary career agenda at all.
receive a worldwide point of view that will help you in your job and life.

*Gain confidence in your ability to solve issues and get along with others.

SNAPSHOT: Peg Mauzy said: "Our program is unusual because it is one semester (15 weeks) in length and students are required to work while they are in London We take care of work permits, but they must be creative and find their own jobs .. Work is the point of immersion in the program. Students are very creative in finding jobs. Two students who wanted to work in clerical jobs as a well-dressed gentleman on the ground and started talking to him. Both ended up with a job in a bank. Others work in pubs, colleges or universities in the local theater in law firms "wherever they can find employment. They have the chance to meet and work with people from around the world because London is so cosmopolitan.

"Students also take three courses taught by American and British and earn twelve hours of credit for the six months to six courses and six for work experience (two courses online). They live together in dormitories with other students to have college experience, but abroad. The last two weeks of the program, students are free to travel where they want to go to Britain or the continent. They must research and plan This part of the trip themselves and why they want to go to the selected sites. When students return, we have a day on campus where everyone has a portfolio of his work and teaching experience to the presidency and college professors."

*Do some research online to discover a program that suits your needs. lots of community colleges offer their own programs or work through organizations such as the College Consortium for International Studies.

*Don't dismiss the idea of going because of money. Financial aid is available from a variety of sources including your college, local organizations, and special scholarships for overseas study. Even some federal and state financial aid can be applied to the costs of these programs because you'll be earning work credit for the experience.

*Parents of more youthful students ought to talk to parents whose students have already participated in study-abroad programs.

*If there's an information session on campus about study-abroad programs, attend it, as lots of of your concerns and questions will be answered.

Monday, November 1, 2010

Study Abroad: Matching the Right Option to Your Needs

After thinking about what kind of program is good for you, and learn what you need, you're ready to start investigating the options that best meet their academic needs, planning, budget and interests.

One of the easiest ways in which the programs are sponsored by your university. In reality, they are often listed on the university website to get the comfort of your dorm room! Similarly, you can visit the study abroad office or the department that oversees the study of study abroad programs.

In some universities, students wishing to study abroad are required to participate in programs sponsored by or affiliated with their respective schools. Whenever this is the case, universities tend to create a series of academic and economic barriers that prevent students going to external programs of any kind. Other universities to keep lists of approved programs (which means the transfer of credit), but just because a program is approved does not mean you can bring with you your financial aid. And many other universities allow students to choose from hundreds of programs available that they are entitled.

If your university does not sponsor study abroad programs or offers a program tailored to your needs, you should start looking outside of your home university program opportunities.

Looking in the library

The university library is always a good place to go when you're doing research, study abroad and research is no different! Many universities in the United States to maintain a collection of study abroad or at least, to spend part of the university library to study abroad. The study abroad the collection contains an array of information from reference books that lists thousands of study abroad for catalogs and brochures for the programs of other universities in the U.S. catalogs course (sometimes called curriculum) for universities abroad.

Problems counselor or a librarian to keep all the media information about the programs often are hundreds of videos, slides, CDs, photos, programs and program sites and other information. Many study abroad offices and libraries also maintain files containing the written evaluations of various programs. Home Universities often require students to return from abroad to submit their assessments for future students to study abroad. You may be assessments of sites and programs you are considering an incredibly valuable.

Going global: Exploring the Internet

Use your personal computer and the campus network, you can find countless sites that give you information on hundreds of programs, financial aid, scholarships, fellowships and specifically tailored to study abroad. You can also find information on internships and volunteer opportunities, international travel, particularly countries in specific areas, and exchange rates and international banks.

While the Web is a great research tool, remember to be critical information can be found here. Just because it's on the Web, does not mean it's true or reliable! Collect, research and analysis, what look and what you're thinking about your study abroad experience, and then share your thoughts with advisers and friends.

Reference lists are usually very general information about the programs and brochures can concentrate on making the program or school by calling the show, showing more of social life and the advantages of living in a particular city. Brochures may be less when it comes to information for researchers. When you know you are interested in the program, visit the Web site sponsor and contact for further information and application forms. Many American programs are free phone number you can call and ask for information, which is sometimes faster than e-mail. If parents have questions or concerns should feel free to call the same numbers and ask to speak with a consultant to the program, too.

Getting a fresh perspective from returning students

Talking with students at the university home, who have already studied abroad is one of the most important in the selection and design of their program. This strategy helped me to choose a program, and helped me to act as a consultant of a study abroad office at my university at home I returned to my studies in Ireland. I had to spend most of my time to tell other students about my experiences and why they too should pack and leave. I also tried to convince some to go to Dublin. If you use the homecoming university students to study abroad programs, co-directors, look for them - are a valuable resource, too!

Do not be afraid to contact students who studied abroad! You probably will not bother them at all and they will most likely be happy to share their study abroad story with you. In fact, you have a hard time getting them to stop talking about!

Meeting with program representatives

Speaking with representatives of the program is a good way to get any personal attention to the need to get answers to all questions. They are usually experts in the programs of their universities or the organizations offer. program representatives often visit college campuses in the United States to promote their programs and meeting with interested students. Some universities have invited representatives of the program on campus each year during the day or evening, Study Abroad Fair. representatives drawn plenty of cabs program brochures, course catalogs and applications. There is also talk of recruiting and interested students. As an added bonus, the program representatives can bring a student who has studied them for a special exhibition program. You can use these opportunities to gather updated information, resolve problems, as well as access to programs for people who know best.