In our increasingly global world, great attention is being paid to students’ international relationships and how can be fostered. Academic experts throughout both developing and developed world, have debated whether studying abroad enhance students to pursue their educational goals or are just extended holidays. In my opinion, living in another country enable people to build relationships internationally and learn local folklore. However, these experiences are not always useful to improve students’ academic careers.
The central reason supporting studying abroad is multifold. Firstly, in cosmopolitan coutries live habitants from different backgrounds and countries, therefore, students learn to socialize with persons from diverse cultures while increasing their multicultural knowledge and improving their interpersonal skills. Moreover, they significantly learn about the history and customs about the host city from a different point of view as if they were tourists. Furthermore, studying abroad offers the opportunity to pursue further goals in students’ academic careers, such as, learning another language or studying a specific course that does not exist in their countries.
Although the above arguments are valid, on the whole it is also true that some students can spend this time as a holiday instead of focusing on their academic accomplishments. It is common for some students to prioritize leisure or night activities rather than learning as they are without parental control. Temporary living in a foreign city, generally with friends and without tutors is doubtless an opportunity for individuals to try new and forbidden things such as drugs or alcohol.
Although there are significant downsides about studying in a foreign country, its’ multifold advantages cannot be denied. Besides some students will not take advantage of learning from new cultures and improving their education due to the fact that they have other preferences, others will enhance their educational prospect and achieve their academic aims.