How to Arrange Your Own Study Abroad Program (4/5)
audrey
29 April, 2009 18:02
This is the fourth article of a series of 5, explaining how to arrange your own study abroad program.
First article: Decide Where to Go
Second article: Determine When to Go
Third article: Language Problems and Programs
How to Pay for It
The main obstacle to study abroad for many people is the cost.
However, there are ways of getting around this. For instance, if you
are an American college or graduate student and receive financial aid,
you can almost always apply your financial aid from your present
institution to the study abroad program you choose. European students
should investigate the Erasmus
program. In any case, you will need to contact the financial aid office
at your school and make the necessary arrangements. This may require a
few extra steps and a somewhat longer period of time, so don't put this
task off until the last minute.
It is less likely that you will be able to arrange financial aid
directly with the host institution, but not impossible. Some programs
do offer scholarships; however, these scholarships are almost always
very competitive. The best advice is to prepare as good an application
as possible, but don't count on scholarships from the host institution
for all or even most of your funding. Volunteer programs may provide a
small stipend or free room and board in exchange for your
participation. If you are studying at the graduate school level, you
might also consider grants or fellowships such as the Fulbright,
although the competition for these grants is also very competitive. In
addition, deadlines for grants and scholarships often fall a year in
advance, and two years in advance is not out of the question.
Especially for American professionals, if your study abroad program
relates to your job, you should inquire about company reimbursement.
You may also qualify for a tax deduction. If you are enrolled for
college credit during your study abroad program, you may qualify for
deferment on your student loans. Participants in volunteer programs
such as the Peace Corps, or another qualified nonprofit organization,
may be able to obtain a deferment, partial loan cancellation, or both.
This is especially true for American students with federally guaranteed
loans. Check with your school or loan institution for details. In any
event, it is essential to keep good records of your expenses and retain
all your receipts.
It may also be possible to work at least part time during your study
abroad program. If you are a young adult (generally aged 18 to 30,
although the exact limits vary by country), you may qualify for a
"holiday visa" which would permit you to work. Young adults who are
good with children can also work as au pairs. If you have good English
skills , and particularly if you have ESL (English as a Second
Language) teaching certification, your skills will be in demand
worldwide. If you are a professional or entrepreneur, you may qualify
for a "business visa" which allows you to conduct some work while you
pursue your study abroad program. Inquire with your host institution,
or check the official website of the country you are visiting. .
In some instances, you may not need a work visa at all. For
instance, if you are a freelancer who conducts much (or all) of your
work through the Internet, you will almost certainly be able to
generate income wherever you go, without restriction. All you need is
your computer and reliable Internet access, and perhaps a cell phone,
although many freelancers use services such as Skype and instant message services to communicate with their clients in real time.
If none of these situations applies to your case, any you would like to work during your study abroad program, The Big Guide to Living and Working and Overseas and CIEE (Council for International Educational Exchange)
are excellent sources for information. If all else fails, for shorter
programs, it may be feasible to set aside savings to pay expenses out
of pocket. In any event, you may have to demonstrate that you have
sufficient funds (or other means to support yourself) to cover your
expenses.
The links below are for scholarships and other aid available for study
abroad programs. More information can be found on the Internet.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
GoAbroad.com Scholarship Links
Study Abroad Financial Aid and Grants
CEA Global Education Solutions
Next Steps
All of the major tasks are done! There are only a few loose ends
left, which will be covered in the next article, which is the last of
the series.
Audrey Henderson
Freelance writer based in Chicago
How to Arrange Your Own Study Abroad Program (3/5)
audrey
22 April, 2009 18:09
This is the third article of a series of 5, explaining how to arrange your own study abroad program.
First article: Decide Where to Go
Second article: Determine When to Go
Language Problems and Programs
Even if you are attending a study abroad program conducted in your
native language or in a language you speak fluently, you will
undoubtedly have to navigate your way around unfamiliar surroundings,
if only to get back and forth to class. Also, unless you are fluent in
the language of your host country (which may or may not be the same
language as your program), even familiar tasks such as mailing a letter
can become challenging. This is especially true if you stay for a
longer period of time and live "off campus."
Most study abroad programs will have multilingual staff and
instructors. Don't be afraid to ask them how to negotiate such
practicalities as train schedules, mobile phone refill cards and
grocery shopping, either before you leave or on site. Once you arrive,
depending on where you travel, it may even be safe to obtain
assistance, especially directions, from people on the street, although
it is always wise to keep your wits about you whenever you are in
unfamiliar territory. If you speak English, again, you will find
yourself at a definite advantage. Many people worldwide speak at least
some English.
While it can be tempting to associate only with other people from
your own country while traveling abroad, you will lose much of the
advantage of being abroad if you do so. It's really not necessary to do
this if you are willing to be flexible and perhaps learn a few words of
the language of your host country, or at least pick up some of the
customs.
If you have selected a language immersion program for your study
abroad program, your language skills will really be put to the test. If
you have followed the advice given earlier and were honest about your
language abilities, you will be glad. If not, you may find yourself
disoriented. In either case, try to speak the language of your program
as much as possible, and especially with locals. In most instances,
people will be pleased by your attempts to speak their language and
will be patient with your mistakes.
Speaking the language with locals will also help you pick up common
idioms which you might not otherwise learn. But be careful about which
idioms you use. If you're not sure about the exact meaning of a
particular phrase, err on the side of caution. Otherwise, you might say
something very crude by mistake, which can be quite embarrassing at the
very least.
If you are pursuing a language immersion program, you will most
likely also have language classes in grammar and conversation, or
perhaps literature as well. This is a good idea, because you will be
less likely to pick up bad speech patterns (which native speakers
sometimes have) if you have language classes than you would be with an
immersion program without classes. If your program does not have
language classes, for instance, some volunteer programs or internships,
try to set aside time for grammar study on your own.
The following list includes language programs in a number of
commonly-studied languages. Many more programs can be found with an
Internet search.
Language Study Abroad Programs
Chinese
English
French
German
Japanese
Spanish
Next Steps
The next step is to work out your finances so that you can pay for
your study abroad program. That subject will be covered in the next
article.
Audrey Henderson
Freelance writer based in Chicago
HSBC: Protecting your wealth in turbulent times
easyexpat
21 April, 2009 22:36
Article sponsored by HSBC
A seminar for foreign nationals in the UK
Investment strategies for volatile times
There are few certainties wherever you look in today's volatile global economy, but HSBC believe that this is the time when you need to think positively about the future.
HSBC invite you to a seminar on "Protecting your wealth in turbulent times".
They'll discuss the nature of the current markets and how you can best position your portfolio for long-term results.This seminar is for foreign nationals in the UK, and will cover:
- Globalmarket overview
- Wealthmanagement for foreign nationals living in the UK
- Benefits of international life insurance protection
HSBC's InternationalWealth Managers will be on hand to offer independent financial planning solutions to help you achieve your financial goals and aspirations. Minimum investment criteria of GBP50,000.
Invest a little of your time in the seminar:
- Date: Thursday 30 April 2009
- Time: Registration 6 pm, seminar 6.15 pm– 8 pm
- Location: The Grand Room, 78 St James’s Street, London SW1A 1JB
to reserve your seat:
This seminar is part of a series they have put together to help you understand financial planning. To find out more about these seminars, please:
How to Arrange Your Own Study Abroad Program (2/5)
audrey
15 April, 2009 18:16
This is the second article of a series of 5, explaining how to arrange your own study abroad program.
First article: Decide Where to Go
Determine When to Go
If you are arranging your own study abroad program, scheduling is an
important consideration. Especially if you are working, your work
schedule will be a major factor in deciding when you can go and how
long you can stay. While workers in many countries enjoy holidays of
several weeks or longer, the standard vacation in America is no more
than two weeks and often as short as one week. While it is possible to
plan a study abroad program for such a brief period of time, it will
require even more planning than a longer program.
Summer is a logical time to plan a shorter study abroad program, and
there are several to choose from. However, be careful if you decide to
study abroad during the summer and select a program which is not
specifically geared toward summer students. Especially in Europe, many
cities and even some countries are effectively shut down for long
periods during the summer holiday season. On the other hand, if you are
seeking a co-op or internship abroad, you may be able to temporarily
replace a worker on holiday if you have the right background. This can
be valuable experience. If you do manage an arrangement like this, you
may be able to develop an independent study program which will be
recognized by a host university or a university in your own country.
Again, this will require substantial lead time, so don't leave this
task until the last minute.
Overseas volunteer programs are another possibility if you have an
extremely limited period where you can go abroad. They are usually
available all year round. Such programs often also have the advantage
of arranging accommodations for their workers. However, most volunteer
programs require workers to pay their own expenses, especially travel
expenses, and financial aid is limited.
Some professionals may be able to arrange a sabbatical or leave in
order to arrange a longer study abroad program. Depending on the
employer, this leave may be paid or unpaid. It goes without saying that
you should try to obtain a guarantee that your job will be held open
upon your return, unless you are seeking a change in career.
If you have a family, you have to make the decision about whether to
bring your family with you. If you travel during the summer and your
spouse or partner also has time off, this will be less complicated than
traveling during the academic year. If you have school age children and
you decide to travel with your family during the academic year, you may
have to arrange for a temporary school or home school for your children
so that they don't fall too far behind, depending on the length of your
stay.
No matter when you decide you want to go, you should allow at least
several months lead time in order to plan all the necessary details. In
fact, it is not unreasonable to begin planning a year in advance. The
list below is just a brief selection of summer school, internship and
volunteer programs. Much more information can be found on the Internet.
Useful Resources
Summer
Internship
Volunteer
Next Steps
You have completed two major steps! The next step is to determine
what language you will use during your study abroad program - your
native language or a new language. That subject will be covered in the
next article.
Audrey Henderson
Freelance writer based in Chicago
How to Arrange Your Own Study Abroad Program (1/5)
audrey
08 April, 2009 18:18
This is the first article of a series of 5, explaining how to arrange your own study abroad program.
Decide Where to Go
Study abroad is a valuable experience for a number of reasons.
International experience is almost universally expected for anyone
pursuing a career in international affairs, either before leaving
school, or soon afterward. Even if you plan to stay put in your own
country, international experience such as study abroad can demonstrate
that you can work well in a multicultural environment, which is
increasingly important as globalization becomes the norm.
Of course, many colleges and universities, and even some secondary
schools sponsor study abroad programs, which often take care of all the
practical aspects, such as accommodations, visas, etc for students.
They also usually arrange financial aid. That's very handy. But if you
can't or don't want to work through the program at a school or
university, you can arrange your own study abroad program, including
financing. All you need is sufficient lead time to plan (and perhaps
save money) and the determination to go. And a computer with Internet
access.
The computer is important because that is how you will search for
possible programs as well as make many of the arrangements. Where you
finally wind up doing study abroad depends on a number of factors, but
the major issues will be your language skills and your interests. If
English is a native language for you or if you speak, understand, read
and write English well, you have a major advantage. Many study abroad
programs, especially international programs, are conducted in English,
even programs located in countries where English is not a native
language. If English is not your native language, you will almost
certainly have to present passing scores on a TOEFL (you can register online) or comparable test to be accepted in an English-language program.
For studies which are not conducted in English, such as language
immersion programs, you will also almost certainly need to show language proficiency
in the language of the program. Be honest with yourself concerning your
ability to speak a foreign language. You don't want to find yourself in
a program where you fail a single class or, in the worst case scenario,
fail the entire program because you cannot keep up with the material.
It's also important to select a program which offers courses or
degrees in what you want to study. If you aren't excited about the
subject matter, you will soon become bored, no matter how beautiful
your surroundings. Your interests may actually determine where you go
for a study abroad program. For instance, if you want to research
apartheid, then you will certainly wind up in South Africa. In any
event, the Internet is your friend when you begin researching possible
study abroad programs. You can do a search for "study abroad" and "X
country" and/or "X subject" to narrow down the selection. You can also
go to clearinghouse sites such as StudyAbroad.com and GoAbroad.com which provide a wealth of information about study abroad programs worldwide.
Check out the website for each program that interests you. Research
where a school or university is accredited. Research volunteer
organizations to determine their affiliations, how long they have been
in operation and related information. Don't hesitate to contact the
school or volunteer organization directly about specific aspects of
their programs. Legitimate institutions and organizations will be happy
to answer whatever questions you may have. Beware of programs which
offer only vague information or don’t list a physical address. Be
absolutely sure that the program you choose is reputable before you
sign any documents and especially before you spend any money. Travel
related websites such as Transitions Abroad are very good resources for reputable study abroad and volunteer programs.
Useful Resources
The study abroad programs listed below are just a very brief selection from a wide variety of possibilities.
Africa
Asia
Europe
Middle East
North America
South America
South Pacific (Australia, New Zealand, and surrounding region)
Next Steps
Once you've decided where you would like to study abroad, it's time
to pull out your calendar and decide when to go abroad. That subject
will be covered in the next article.
Audrey Henderson
Freelance writer based in Chicago
Festivals in Europe this April
siddlobo
05 April, 2009 11:41
The days are getting longer, the snow is melting, spring is in the
air and the celebrations have begun. Here’s a roundup of the top
festivals happening across Europe this April.
First day of Summer, Iceland
16th April
After spending over six months in darkness, it’s hardly surprising that
there are huge celebrations on the first day of summer in Iceland. The
festivities include street parties, parades, live music, dances and
nonstop entertainment.
http://www.worldeventsguide.com/event/1938/Iceland/First-Day-of-Summer.html
Foire du Trone, Paris, France
Date to be confirmed
The Foire du Trone is one of the largest country fairs in France and
attracts over five million visitors each year. It has become one of the
biggest fairs in the French calendar. It combines a modern day
amusement park with charming entertainment from the past. Expect
acrobats, jugglers, fire eaters and roller coasters at this fun packed,
family oriented fair.
http://www.worldeventsguide.com/event/453/Paris-France/Foire-du-Trone.html
Find more information about expat life in Paris on Easy Expat.
The Grand National, Liverpool, England
2nd – 4th April
Here’s one for horse lovers. The John Smith's Grand National is one of
the biggest sporting and social events in the UK with an estimated
150,000 visitors and over 600 million people watching it at home on
television. For three days of world class racing, style, competition
and prize money, this is the place to be. http://www.visitliverpool.com/grandnational/home
The Holy Week, across Italy, Spain, Greece, Portugal
This is for the spiritually inclined. Solemn prayers, torchlit
processions, masses and rituals including the ‘dance of death’ are
performed across various countries in Europe. Chief places that the
Holy Week is celebrated in include Braga in Portugal, Gangi, Palermo,
Pietraperzia, Prizzi, Rome and Sulmona in Italy, Cadiz, Granada,
Seville, Valencia, Verges and Villarelto in Spain and Patmos in Greece.
London Marathon, London, England
26th April
This is for marathon lovers. The world renown London Marathon is
hitting the streets of the famous city in April. Put on your running
shoes and head out with the thousands of spectators. Mini marathon,
wheelchair competitions are all part of this action packed event.
http://www.london-marathon.co.uk
Find more information about expat life in England on Easy Expat.
Scarecrow Festival, Moringhem, France
17th – 19th April
This is a bizarre yet entertaining way to spend a weekend. This
slightly spooky scarecrow festival takes place every year in Moringhem.
It started in 1989 when the mayor's secretary used scarecrows as an
amusing way to direct friends to his home. Now an annual event, the
village is 'invaded' by scarecrows and tourists alike during the
weekend festival.
http://www.holidayfrance.org.uk/
Find more information about expat life in France on Easy Expat.
Spring Festival , Budapest, Hungary
20th March – 5th April
This is one of the major highlights on Budapest’s cultural calendar.
The Spring Festival brings together some of the biggest names in music
and dance. From orchestral concerts to chamber evenings, folk dance to
the International Theatre Festival, there’s lots going on to entertain
the culture bug in you.
http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/calendar_of_events/budapest_spring_festival_2009
Please note that there may be changes to the dates, events and line-ups
at the festivals. For detailed information, check the official
websites.
Sidd Lobo
Freelance writer
Prevention rather than cure – reap the well-being advantage
easyexpat
02 April, 2009 10:58
Article sponsored by William Russell
By Rosanna Turner, Marketing Manager, William Russell Limited
We all want to make the best of our health, but sometimes work pressures or the expatriate lifestyle can conspire against making the right decisions all the time. Most of us like a drink, eat the wrong foods, or take a taxi rather than walk and nobody likes to be lectured about their diet, smoking or drinking habits. Fortunately by combining regular medical health screening with sensible lifestyle choices it’s relatively straightforward to live a healthy life without adopting a completely monastic lifestyle.
The benefits of healthy living are clear. People who are fit and well suffer less stress and benefit from improved mental and physical performance. A healthy lifestyle can also help you to live longer, suffer fewer illnesses and avoid preventable diseases.
The steps to a healthier lifestyle are simple. Make sure that you have an annual medical health check which includes screening for common treatable conditions and combine this with a few simple lifestyle choices to improve your overall health.
Preventive healthcare
An annual medical health assessment is frequently available as part of an expatriate private medical insurance scheme. William Russell’s Global Health Elite plans, for example, include cover for annual preventive screening which could include cervical smear tests and mammograms for women or prostate cancer screens for men, testing for heart disease, and a general all-over-body medical check up.
Regular screening can make sure that any possible problems are caught early when they are straightforward to treat. Your doctor will also help you to identify whether you are on track with a healthy lifestyle and provide guidance and advice on your diet, weight, drinking or smoking
Well-being isn’t just for adults, children should also receive the usual developmental check-ups to pick up early signs of any difficulties. This process should include all of the vaccinations for common childhood diseases which can prevent debilitating and sometimes fatal conditions.
At William Russell we believe that prevention is always better than cure, which is why we have built regular routine medical examination, preventive screening and ‘Well-child’ benefits into our Global Health Elite plans for expatriates.
Lifestyle choices
A few lifestyle changes can also make a major difference to your long term health. Regular physical activity can boost the immune system, reduce stress and help to control weight. The general guidance is that doing at least 30 minutes of moderate activity around five times a week is sufficient to reduce your risk of coronary heart disease, stroke or type two diabetes.
A healthy diet also makes a major contribution to your overall well-being, helping to control weight as well as improving physical and mental performance. The key is to eat a varied diet, with a wide range of different foods and plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Cutting down on alcohol or, if you’re a smoker, reducing or giving up altogether also pays dividends.
The well-being bonus
The benefits of a healthy lifestyle are clear - you’ll be more alert, fitter, healthier and less likely to suffer from common illnesses. Taking steps to improve your lifestyle need not be onerous; a combination of regular exercise, healthy eating and preventive medical screening can make a huge difference to your well-being. And if you’re fit and well you’ll be able to enjoy the occasional vices, such as alcohol or a junk food fix all the more!
