Page 2 - euroguidance-insight-newsletter-2015-autumn

Study abroad and discover yourself

Before participating in foreign exchange programmes, students have high learning expectations. They expect to be
practicing a foreign language and learning about another culture. On their return, the students acknowledge that,
although these expectations were indeed met, more than anything, they have learnt more about themselves and
grown as individuals.

process of experience and me- The host family is the gateway
ta-learning started so early after All 17 students stayed with host fam-
arrival as well as noticing the pro- ilies. This meant that the students-
foundness of the experience. were immediately placed in a social
“They have experienced a person- setting.
al transformation. The learning is
not limited to the few weeks spent “Host families are a key success
abroad; it continues” says Åsa. factor. People who let you in and
Little international research exists on want to help you. But, at the same
the effects or outcomes of studies time, the students must reach out,
This was one of the main findings in abroad, and most of the available keep open to contact with others,
the Swedish doctoral thesis that ex- research relates to higher educa- overcome the barriers, and speak
amined the outcomes of short study tion. We know almost nothing about the language”.
visits abroad among upper second- the effects of study visits in upper
ary students. secondary education, however Åsa’s Despite the many levels of learning,
findings are consistent with previous everything is not just a walk in the
‘They discovered themselves in their research on higher education. park, or is it? Do they not encounter
encounters with other people. They
have dared to take the leap into new
and unfamiliar environments, and
they have discovered that they ac-
tually were able to cope. This boosts
their self-esteem and makes the
students more confident,’ says Åsa
Karlsson Perez.

Before she started her doctoral
thesis, Åsa worked for ten years as
a teacher in Swedish schools where
she also taught foreign students on
exchange programmes. In undertak-
ing her thesis, she wanted to delve
deeper into the field of exchanges
and study the outcomes of visits
abroad.

Losing the balance
‘Disjuncture’ is an important con-
cept in her thesis and Åsa describes
this as losing one’s balance. “The
students encounter problems, find
solutions and learn. They then reflect
on their own actions before they
experience transformation”.
She was surprised to see that this

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