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Posts Tagged: Study Abroad

Learn Spanish in Argentina

: Photo: Expanish

Have you planned anything for your vacation time this year? Instead of sitting on a beach somewhere, what about immersing yourself in the culture and language of another country? Latin American countries are a great choice for a holiday, gap year or even to study abroad and Argentina is one of the most popular choices owing to its charm, affordability and European history.

Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, is where you will find the most Spanish schools. There are many that offer courses ranging from just a couple of hours daily to more intensive courses that will have you speaking Spanish, or at least mastering the basics, before you leave. Expanish is a Spanish school in the heart of Buenos Aires who offer a variety of learning options depending on your needs. Their objective is to immerse you in the language and culture, giving you the best chance at learning while enjoying your time in Argentina.

Intensive Spanish is a program of small group Spanish classes that are 4 hours per day, 20 hours per week. They offer all levels of Spanish classes starting every Monday, so students can begin a program at any time of the year. You can choose to take from 1 to 20+ weeks, depending on your specific goals and schedules. To complement the classes, they also offer a variety of activities and workshops where you can practice your Spanish and participate in the local culture. From tango classes to watching football games, studying Argentine films, bike tours and even weekend trips to exotic places like the Iguazu waterfalls, it doesn´t have to be all about the study because after all, it´s a holiday too.

Still not convinced? Spanish is the second most natively-spoken language in the world now (after Mandarin), Buenos Aires is regarded as one of the safest big cities in Latin America and you will get to see just how passionate the Argentine people really are. You may even find that after leaving this vivid city that the old custom of a firm handshake when greeting someone will give way to a friendly kiss on the cheek, even long after returning home to your country.

Just For Fun — No Comments
7
Feb 11

How to Cultivate a Sense of Wonder

science

Cultivating a sense of wonder in life is essential for people of every age, but the older we get the more difficult it becomes to marvel at our day to day lives. We lose our sense of wonder as it is replaced with daily routines, college deadlines, exams, social obligations and responsibilities, and the simple pleasure of a sunrise may not be enough to amuse us in our increasingly sophisticated world.

Have you experienced something remarkable recently? We would like to share with you a few ideas on how to cultivate wonder in your life this year:

1. Learn about creativity, and how to enjoy freedom of imagination and to generate more outstanding ideas. Get yourself a book on creativity to understand what it is. You can also join a creative art workshop like Hand Painting on Silk or take up a Course in Creativity to enhance your natural abilities.

2. Take up photography to memorize beauty around you. Create a photo blog to share your photographs with others. Enrol in one of the many photography courses around to learn how to find and capture the moment and the beauty in the smallest of things. A Photography Distance Learning Course from UK Open Learning is for all ages and all ability levels. They defiene photography as an art form that allows you to appreciate who you are and what you do.

3. Study abroad to learn about other cultures, open your mind, and to think more originally. Studying abroad will also help you to increase your self-confidence and will benefit your career. Consider Latin American destinations like Argentina and Mexico if you’d like to improve your Spanish. UIC Universidad Intercontinental in Mexico offers a Spanish program aimed at foreign students interested in learning the language and Mexican culture.

4. Watch kids. Do you remember your childhood? Do you remember how every day brought new and exiting experiences? Discover the child in you. Spend time with your younger brothers and sisters or volunteer at a child care centre.

5. Learn something new every day! Fashion, modern architecture or breading dogs, what is it that has always interested you? What subjects did you enjoy at school? Find time to investigate them and dig deeper. Watch popular science tv channels, read travel magazines or visit your local museum.

Source: Psychcentral.com

Education News — No Comments
11
Aug 10

Study Abroad Trends – The Middle East

According to reports by the Institute of International Education more and more American students are choosing study abroad destinations in the Middle East. While there are still a lot of students spending a semester in the UK, France and Italy, over the last 10 years destinations like Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates have become increasingly popular. Since 2002 the number of American students that went to study in a Middle Eastern country is up six-fold. This increase is due in part to the Critical Language Scholarship, a government initiative started in 2006, to encourage students to learn Arabic and 12 other languages spoken in Middle Eastern countries.

Photo by Cathyse97

Students who have decided to study abroad in places like Beirut and Cairo say that they came to the Middle East because they wanted to learn about Muslim culture and to understand the conflicts that exist today. Many students feel that a study abroad experience in the Middle East is more relevant in today´s building of international relationships and policies, and believe that their experience studying in the Middle East will help them secure important internships and jobs after college.

5 Study Abroad Scholarships That Will Blow Your Mind

Studying abroad is an eye opening experience for students. One thing it should not do is break the bank, but unfortunately it is not cheap to study in another country. Luckily there are literally thousands of scholarships available to students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, who want to study abroad. Many of them are given out to specific fields of study, but below we have found five international study abroad scholarships that offer money to a wide range of students:

Gilman International Scholarship Program

For: U.S citizen undergraduate students in financial need.

Scholarship of: Up to $5,000

This program offers grants to pursue academic studies abroad. It is a congressionally funded program that gives awards to about 1700 students a year. Recipients are chosen based on a variety of factors including financial need, chosen country of study, disability status and ethnic background, among others.

Boren Awards for International Study

For: U.S. citizens studying abroad that want to “add an important international and language component to their education.”

Scholarship of: Up to $20,000 a year ($30,000 for the fellowship)

The Boren Awards are a privately funded, federally regulated set of scholarships and fellowships that offer funding to American students for study abroad programs. They are interested in funding the study of languages that are less mainstream, like Arabic and Turkish.

Mary Isabel Sibley Fellowship

For: Female post-doctoral researchers who are studying Greek or French language, literature, archaeology or history.

Scholarship of: Up to $20,000

The Mary Sibley Fellowship is offered by the Phi Beta Kappa Society, but applicants do not have to be members to apply.

Central European University Fellowship

For: Postgraduate students from anywhere in the world.

Scholarship of: Monthly stipend, houseing and tuition waivers.

Central European University in Budapest, Hungary offers financial aid to help lower study costs. Students from all over the world are eligible to apply, no matter their field of study, if they plan to enroll at CEU.

SIT Study Abroad Scholarships

For: Future SIT students.

Scholarship of: A wide range of financial aid options and scholarships.

Students who apply for study abroad programs through SIT Study Abroad are eligible for a range of financial aid options and scholarships, including a number of study-specific funds that cater to particular interests. SIT operates programs all over the world, including Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, Netherlands, France, Iceland, Czech Republic and the Balkans.

Education Tips — No Comments
8
Apr 10

Tips For Saving Money While Studying Abroad

Tight budgets may have some students fearing that study abroad opportunities aren´t in the cards during their university years, but many students who spent time studying in another country would tell you that it was the best investment they have made. There are plenty of ways to cut back on costs and still have an amazing experience. Here are a few money-saving tips:

Have an open mind about your study abroad destination. Many students from various parts of the world flock to European countries or the United States, but there are many amazing places in the world that can offer you an excellent education (in and outside the classroom) that won´t cost a fortune. Think Central and South America, as well as Asia and Africa. Education and living expenses in these regions tend to be more affordable than in Europe and the U.S.

Do your own thing. It is tempting to buy the complete package and live on campus or through a university housing system but chances are you will be paying more. Do some research on housing and find out what locals pay or see about living with a family. It is usually a cheaper option and will definitely give you a unique perspective as well as integrate you into local culture.

Explore independently. Programs and guides geared toward foreigners are usually always more expensive. Don´t rely on guide books to tell you where to eat, shop or sleep. Ask a local.

Cook. It is tempting in another country to go out to eat all the time but it can drain your savings pretty quick. If you are set on getting your fill of foreign flavors that is great. Invest in a cook book and invite some friends over. Even if it ends up being a group effort you will learn, laugh and even save some money.

Education News — 3 Comments
5
Mar 10

Fulbright – The Best Way to Study Abroad

Students from the U.S.:

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers fellowships for U.S. graduating college seniors, graduate students, young professionals and artists to study abroad for one academic year. During the 2008-2009 academic year, more than 1,500 U.S. students were studying abroad with either full or partial support from the Fulbright Program.

Full Grant Award Benefits

Full Grant benefits for Study/Research and English Teaching Assistantships include:

- Round-trip transportation to the host country
- Maintenance for the academic year, based on living costs in the host country
- Limited health benefits

In addition, Full Grants may include:

- Book and research allowances
- Mid-term enrichment activities
- Full or partial tuition
- Language study programs
- Pre-departure and in-country orientation

For foreign students:

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from abroad to research and study in the United States for one year or longer. About 1,700 new awards are awarded to foreign graduate students for support at U.S. universities, and some 1,350 renewal awards are also made each year.

Full Grant Award Benefits

- Round-trip transportation to the United States
- Monthly stipend
- Limited Health Benefits
- Univeristy tuition and costs (total or parcial, depending on the university)

Education News — 3 Comments
18
Feb 10

Warsaw – A Surprise Study Abroad Destination

Downtown Warsaw

It may come as a surprise to many, but Warsaw, Poland is the city with the greatest number of higher education schools in Europe. In fact, one in three adult Varsovians holds a university-level degree. At any moment there are 300,000 university students in the capital city, including 3,775 foreign students. Students from Europe constitute the biggest group – many from Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, Norway and Sweden. A large number of students also come from the United States. As for Asian students, most of them come from Taiwan, Kazakhstan, Vietnam, India and China. Having such a high concentration of young people has had a cultural impact on the city, there are dozens of active student clubs enhancing Warsaw’s artistic and cultural attractiveness. Poland’s capital has a thriving nightlife, with many bars and clubs. Warsaw also attracts many young and independent designers, artists, directors and performers who add to the city’s theatre, music, design and architecture.

If you are looking to study abroad, over 15 learning institutions offer courses and studies dedicated especially for foreigners. With Educaedu Poland you can browse for the one that suits you best: The Ryszard Lazarski School of Commerce and Law has the biggest number of foreign students studying for their bachelors and masters in Economics and International Relationships.

You can study Human Rights and Genocide Studies at the Collegium Civitas.

You can also choose one of many MBA programs taught in English at various universities like a European MBA at the Kozminski University.

A summer university course in Economics and Management provided by the oldest business school in Poland, Warsaw School of Economics, is also highly recommended.