Sec 407 Zhang Yangfan 33 28-3-08
Free Pick Expository Essay Item 2 Draft 2
Q20. Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of being educated abroad. (1997)
In 2006, about 22,000 Singaporeans graduated, roughly 12,000 from the three local universities and 10,000 overseas. In our increasingly interdependent shrinking world, studying abroad has become a fashion in recent years. This essay aims to discuss the students’ personal advantages and disadvantages of being educated abroad. While one can learn to view the world more sophisticatedly, and acquire more skills at a global learning stage, one may face the problem of being unaccustomed to new environment and also risk going astray when being educated abroad. Overall, the experience of studying overseas is more advantageous to the students.
To begin with, being educated abroad will indeed help the students to view the world more sophisticatedly, as they will obtain a wider and newer perspective. The Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), a national academic consortium, surveyed the alumni from all the IES study abroad programs from 1950 to 1999. According to the survey results, 98 percent of respondents said that studying abroad helped them to better understand their own cultural values and biases, and 82 percent replied that studying abroad contributed to them developing a more sophisticated way of looking at the world. This is reasonable. Being away from their motherlands, students will be more aware of their own cultural values and attitudes, thus gaining the opportunity to examine these values. In this way, they may discover and realize new interpretations of certain issues, resulting in fresh insights. Also, staying in a different country provides them with abundant opportunities to explore other cultures. The students can therefore learn to appreciate and respect the similarities and differences between people of different cultures when interacting with them. Ultimately, with the ability to view the world sophisticatedly, these students will feel easier when building global capacity and preparing to respond to the new challenges, responsibilities and opportunities of living as global citizens.
Moreover, the experience of being educated overseas brings advantages for students when they are seeking jobs after graduation. In the global marketplace nowadays, multi-national companies look for people with overseas experience who can lead or work with a multicultural workforce, and also understand local operating conditions. Specifically, Microsoft has a global inclusive commitment which is “thinking and acting globally”, as stated in the tenets that propel the Microsoft company mission. Therefore, it can be seen that even huge companies like Microsoft advocate workers who can serve in a global environment well. In this case, because students who have been educated abroad are more equipped to wheel and deal in a global environment where cultures, values and languages cross paths, they have more chances to be employed, as compared to the rest. In fact, other than in consumer’s industry, this highly-skilled workforce is desired in the political world as well, as it is essential for a country’s leaders to be able to recognize the global trends, with the knowledge of viewing the world sophisticatedly. Hence, students benefits from their overseas education when seeking jobs.
Nevertheless, there are always two sides to a coin. Students studying overseas may face a lot of difficulties when studying in a completely different environment, especially if their classes are in another language. It is very challenging to excel in academic performance overseas due to being unaccustomed to the different teaching techniques and language. As a result, they may lose their interest and confidence in studying if the effort and time invested does not bring progress. Furthermore, one will be solely responsible for one’s own mental and physical health when one is studying abroad, as one will be away from home and one’s parents. “Studies resoundingly show that a lack of parental support and guidance is one of the primary causes for at-risk behavior such as drinking, smoking, taking drugs and having unprotected sex,” says Dr. Michael Anastasi, a family counselor from La Verne, California. It is not easy for young people to maintain their focus on studying without having their families nearby. Everyone needs their family, even adults. Without strong family support, people can become discouraged easily. To quench their thirst for emotional support, some people may turn to look for that support in unhealthy addictions such as alcohol, cigarettes and drugs. The thirst for human contact and support is what drives many people to do those unwise actions. Hence, students who go overseas to study may catch risks of going astray, if they lack self-discipline.
Despite, the advantages of being educated abroad still outweigh these contemplated disadvantages. The difficulties encountered may build up one’s resilience, thus contributing to one’s character development. The more endeavors one makes when pursuing greater academic achievements in a new learning environment, the more satisfied one will feel when one eventually succeeds. Should one fail after trying one’s best, one will not regret as one has learned a lesson of life and obtained precious experience. Also, one is challenged to be self-disciplined when one lacks family support. Keeping one’s responsibility and self-motivation at heart helps one to overcome the lures outside. Viewing from such perspectives, the disadvantages of being educated abroad helps to stretch one’s maturity, and eventually benefits the student. As a result, studying overseas is certainly more advantageous to the students.
In conclusion, being educated abroad has both pros and cons to the students. Education today embraces a spirit of exploration and adventure. The experiences of studying overseas indeed have a positive and sustainable impact on students. Yet the difficulties and risks one may face when being abroad alone invites serious consideration. Studying overseas has become a trend nowadays. Though it displays more advantages, one should still choose his path carefully and realistically, and avoid following the trend blindly or making hasty decisions.
