How High School Teachers Can Benefit from Study Abroad
Authored By:
High school study abroad is an enriching academic adventure that allows students to broaden their horizons and experience cultural immersion at a young age, instilling in them globalized skills for this modern world.
With CIEE as a partner, teachers can promote study abroad in their high schools and reap the rewards of spreading the word. This can include professional development and travel opportunities for themselves, too.
Here’s a look at the ways students and teachers benefit from high school study abroad.
How Students Benefit from Study Abroad Opportunities
Study Abroad Shapes Students Into More Well-Rounded Individuals
High school study abroad provides academic enrichment that allows students to apply the lessons they’ve learned in the classroom to the real world as they continue to learn and grow. Students who experience language and cultural immersion often demonstrate strengthened recall, memory and critical problem-solving skills in academic settings.
Additionally, high school study abroad provides young students with valuable life skills they’ll take into adulthood. They return more confident, independent and open-minded, traits that can set high school students up for success in the future.
Study Abroad Can Improve Students’ Foreign Language Abilities
Learning the local language in the country where it’s spoken can help accelerate learning. Students who consistently hear the language spoken by locals can better decipher word and sentence breaks and develop better pronunciation.
Language immersion can also help introduce students to new phrases and vocabulary words and provide an ideal situation for language practice, encouraging students to speak the language with native speakers. Teenage language learners can come home from high school exchange programs in a foreign language with improved fluency and a deeper understanding of the host country’s culture.
Check out CIEE’s High School Summer Abroad Language & Culture programs!
Study Abroad Teaches Students Cultural Awareness and Sensitivity
Students learn many life lessons while studying abroad, including becoming more culturally sensitive and empathetic. They’ll be faced with new social norms, unique customs and different cultural traditions than they’ve ever experienced. Learning that cultural differences exist and are a normal part of life will help them be more accepting of cultural differences here at home.
Study Abroad Looks Great on College Applications
When it comes time for high school students to apply to college, their study abroad experience can help them stand out on their application. Studying abroad demonstrates to college admission boards academic interest beyond U.S. borders, a desire to face new challenges in stride and the confidence to face new things away from the comforts of home. Plus, students will be able to list the abundance of skills they gained abroad like improved language abilities, cross-cultural communication and leadership skills.
How Teachers Benefit from Their Students Going Abroad
Study Abroad Reinvigorates a Teacher’s Classroom
When one student studies abroad, their experience spreads across the classroom in a meaningful way! They return with international insights that can complement high school lessons along with a mature attitude that may rub off on others and help with classroom management. Not to mention, one person’s study abroad experience may be enough to give another student considering studying abroad the confidence to go, too.
Applying to Be a Program Leader Can Be a Fun Summer Job
Teachers looking for a fun second job over the summer can consider applying to be a Program Leader on CIEE’s summer abroad programs for high school students. As a CIEE Program Leader, teachers get to travel abroad to a unique global location and mentor students on their exciting adventure all the while making extra income.
Study Abroad Could Earn Teachers a Free Trip of Their Own!
When teachers successfully refer 10 or more students on CIEE high school summer abroad programs in the same summer, they can earn a free spot on a CIEE-led trip abroad with other educators from across the U.S.!
These trips allow teachers to engage in global networking at international CIEE centers, immersing themselves in the local culture and practicing their language skills. Teachers can also earn continuing education hours during these trips.
How Can You Promote Study Abroad?
To spread the word, teachers typically send out emails, post flyers in their hallways and talk to students in class about study abroad opportunities available.
Check out our resources to promote study abroad.