Anne Fox :: Blog :: A stint abroad

When I was a student there was no question of spending time abroad as part of my studies or doing an internship unless you were doing modern languages which I was not. Even before university I had thought about and investigated the possibility of spending a term abroad while still at school but it never came to anything as I was rather a lone voice. Now in Europe, the idea of spending some time abroad either for study or work placement is being pushed more and more as an essential part of education in an increasingly globalised world. As well as semesters abroad or internships there are also international intensive study projects such as the Borrowed Identities one I participated in last February and which formed the topic of the last Absolutely Intercultural podcast. There I sought the impressions of the teachers and in the latest show Laurence Borgmann sought the views of the students. For them it seemed that language was not an issue but that working in a team was the most important skill to acquire. The show also gives advice to students hoping to receive Erasmus scholarships to support their stints abroad. It's not just a question of rewarding those with the highest grades. Awarding committees look at the whole person and in particular their motivation to spend time abroad. Laurence also talked to a German student who decided to go abroad himself after helping his girlfriend arrange her study/internship in China. What effect this has on the relationship is also explored in the show.