Many students are looking to gain an international and cross-cultural experience during their undergraduate careers. As academic advisers should know the most up-to-date information about the types of programs available in order to provide students with all of their study abroad options. Powers (2006) reported that study abroad programs can enhance students' acquisition of a foreign language, improve their knowledge of the host culture, and even transform their worldviews. Yet less than 1 percent of American college students study abroad each year. This article points out some of the benefits of studying abroad but also draws attention to the low number of students reaping these benefits. Many students are familiar with the traditional, long-term study abroad model, but as short-term programs gain popularity, it is important to inform students about these opportunities as well. The purpose of this article is to explain what short-term study abroad programs are, share the benefits of participating in these kinds of programs, as well as provide academic advisers with the means to discover if short-term study abroad programs are appropriate for their students.
Short-Term Study Abroad Programs
Long-term study abroad programs are considered to be the traditional education abroad experiences. Students typically study for one semester to a full year and become fully immersed in another culture. This experience is wonderful and can provide students with increased global competencies and cultural awareness.
However, long-term study abroad programs are not for every student. Some barriers to participating in long-term programs include strict courses of study that some students need to follow, in which case leaving the institution for a semester is not an option. Also, some students are hesitant about committing to a lengthy program when they have never travelled abroad before. Another difficulty students could face with the long-term model is financing a trip abroad. In addition, some students’ extra-curricular activities require them to remain on campus. For example, student government officers or theatre majors tend to have commitments that preclude them from traveling abroad for an entire semester or year.
Short-term study abroad programs are considered to be anything less than a traditional semester- or quarter-long program. They can vary in duration from one week to an entire summer (Keefe, 2008). Faculty often lead these trips, but they can also be independent programs. They can be part of a semester-long course or a course in and of itself. There can be a variety of housing options. Some student’s travel with a group and stay in a hostel, while others live with host families. Sometimes program costs are part of the semester’s tuition; sometimes program and travel expenses are separate, independent from the semester tuition. While short-term programs can come in a variety of forms, they all share the same goal—provide international and cultural experiences for students.
Benefits of Short-Term Study Abroad Experiences
While the shorter length of time and lower costs associated with short-term study abroad programs can be attractive, short-term programs have much more to offer. Arenson (2003) wrote “Gains Seen in Study Abroad Trips,” featuring a student who found that short-term versus long-term study abroad programs offered her intentional exposure to residents of the country she visited. She said that her friends who studied abroad for a semester spent a lot of time with the American friends with whom they travelled, rather then connect with locals (Arenson, 2003). Unlike her friends, this student spent significant time in a short-term program working with natives of the host culture. Students clearly have opportunities to meet and get to know locals of the host countries, even if they are only visiting for a short period of time.
Kenneth Cushner (2004) stated that students coming back from short-term programs tend to study more foreign languages, stay enrolled in higher education longer, and have a much better appreciation for different cultures. Short-term study abroad programs can provide students with exposure to a different culture, can make students more comfortable with the idea of studying abroad, and can encourage them to participate in longer-term programs later in their college experiences or careers.
Zamastil-Vondrova (2005) studied the impact of a short-term program to the Czech Republic and found that the program improved students’ basic understanding of language and culture. Zamastil-Vondrova (2005) also found that even though the students studied about the cultures they were going to visit prior to leaving the United States, they had huge misperceptions. Thus, the first-hand experience was irreplaceable (Zamastil-Vondrova, 2005). Regardless how long a student is able to experience living in a different country, being able to immerse in the culture helps students understand what it is really like to reside in a different part of the world.
Another advantage of short-term study abroad programs is that students can participate in several such programs, allowing them to gain exposure to multiple cultures and languages.
Is Short-Term Study Abroad the Answer for Your Students?
Academic advisers can help their advisees figure out whether short-term study abroad programs might be an option they want to pursue. Academic advisers are not expected to be study abroad experts, but by being aware of short-term options, they can initiate preliminary conversations with students and then refer them to the study abroad office. To help advisees make this decision, here are a set of questions that advisers can ask students:
- 1. What are you hoping to gain from a study abroad experience?
Advisers need to make sure that their students’ expectations are realistic. For example, becoming fluent in another language is not an outcome of a short-term study abroad experience, however gaining exposure to a different culture is.
- 2. What is your financial situation in terms of study abroad?
Some students may not be comfortable discussing this with their academic adviser, but it can be a huge factor in students’ decisions to study abroad. Even if they don’t discuss their personal financial situation, encourage students to think about finances in terms of study abroad feasibility. Both long-term and short-term programs can be expensive, but financial aid may be available in both cases.
- 3. What area of the world would you like to explore?
Short-term study abroad programs typically involve travel to a specific location based on the course and the faculty member. Based on available courses and how they fit into a student’s program of study, study abroad options may be somewhat limited. However, many institutions do offer a wide variety of courses and locations for short-term study abroad programs.
- 4. How can we fit this experience into your course of study?
This question is quite complex, and there are many follow-up questions, such as: Are there any short-term study abroad programs that fulfill a core or major requirement? If not, do you have room for an elective? Are you available to travel over winter, spring, or summer breaks?
These are critical questions to ask students to ensure that they are comfortable with the decision to study abroad in a short-term program. Again, it is important to emphasize that those students who indicate an interest in studying abroad should be referred to the appropriate office on campus that can assist with answers to questions and help with planning.
Conclusion
Many students want to study abroad but are not aware of options outside the traditional long-term study abroad experience. Graduating more globally competent students is a goal for many institutions; and because internationalization is gaining popularity in higher education, it is important that academic advisers remain aware of the options available for students. By learning more about short-term study abroad programs and their benefits, advisers can encourage students to work with the study abroad office to select a program that is right for them.