Studying Abroad: Experiences & Opinions

[kbaumen]

So, has anyone got any interesting experience or opinion to share? I, myself, am currently fighting with the bureaucracy of UCAS to apply to the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, where my main priority is Electrical and Mechanical engineering, and I feel thrilled. I really want to go and study there (or anywhere outside my country due to the economical situation and complications created) and my parents also think it's a good idea and are going to support me as much as they can.

However, I would like to read about some other people's experience. Have you studied abroad? What did you study? What was it like? How was the international environment? Was it hard to get used to studying in other than your mother's tongue?

 

[fluidistic]

I was living in France with my mother, brother and sister. I am the elder.
Once I finished high school (July of 2006), I moved to Argentina alone to study Physics. I met a woman and now she's my girlfriend and we live in the same flat. I knew some Spanish before coming here, but I'd say I've asked thousands of questions related to the language to my girlfriend. Now Argentinian people don't know if I'm a foreigner when they listen to me.
I just finished the first year at University, and the bachelor lasts 5 years here. I plan of coming back to France once I get the degree in order to pursue graduate studies, or maybe in Canada since I'm also Canadian. In my case studying abroad in a quite different country is a really nice experience and I feel it might be the most beautiful years of my life.
It wasn't hard for me to study in Spanish, even when I started University. As I said, I knew some Spanish before coming here. But I realize it may be a big problem if you plan to study in a country whose language is almost unknown to you. If you're young and you want to study abroad, do it.

 

[mbisCool]

Has anyone ever studied abroad in a country where they didn't know the language? If so how did you manage? I would love to study abroad but I only know German and don't much care for Germany.

Does rosetta stone work well? I have heard many good reviews but never really used it.

 

[kbaumen]

As I said, I knew some Spanish before coming here. But I realize it may be a big problem if you plan to study in a country whose language is almost unknown to you. If you're young and you want to study abroad, do it.

Well, I don't mean to brag, but I don't consider English that much of a problem for me. But that's the only foreign language I can speak more or less fluently. At school I'm also studying German and I can say a few things in German as well, but it's not like I could without any problems communicate in it, not to mention studying in it. It's the same with Russian, I know a little bit, can speak a little bit but that's all. Hence, my choice - Scotland. Of course I could've chosen Australia or the states but from this year, for EU citizens studying is without tuition in Scotland, which is a serious argument.

 

[cristo]

Well, I don't mean to brag, but I don't consider English that much of a problem for me.

You wait till you hear the locals in Glasgow speak: I can barely understand them!

 

[Monocles]

Has anyone ever studied abroad in a country where they didn't know the language? If so how did you manage? I would love to study abroad but I only know German and don't much care for Germany.

Does rosetta stone work well? I have heard many good reviews but never really used it.

It depends on the country. I studied in China last summer and didn't know a word of Chinese. However, most young people in China know English, so I was just fine. In retrospect, it probably would have behooved me to at least learn a few simple phrases, but I survived.

As far as whether it was worth it... It's hard for me to say. I only went because I didn't want to stay home over the summer, and out of state students such as myself pay in state tuition when studying abroad. I definitely enjoyed it a lot, and came back with a lot of interesting experiences. I can't really say that I learned a whole lot that I couldn't have learned at home, though.

I have a friend who studied at Strathclyde last spring, and he said it was wonderful there. I'm actually thinking of studying there too, but probably not for a couple more years.

 

[kbaumen]

You wait till you hear the locals in Glasgow speak: I can barely understand them!

A friend of mine studies at Strathclyde and she said that in the international environment you rarely hear the Scottish English. Even the faculty is mostly not Scottish.

 

[physics girl phd]

A friend and I that went to Scotland (for a conference 10 or so years ago) had no problem with the accent.. except when we asked the maitre-de for a recommendation of a "family-friendly" burger joint. He replied that he always took his family to the "Whore Pot"... which we repeat back to him and had him repeat. In following his directions, we didn't see any restaurant of such description, but we found one on our own after a few additional blocks. Eventually, on our return trip, we noticed the "Hot Spot."

We also toured to Edinburgh (a friend was on faculty there).. and seriously, we enjoyed Glasgow more, because it's more gritty and less polished "touristy" (although there was still plenty in Glasgow to do in our extra days). Getting out to less traveled areas (via the train or via the friend) was also great... unfortunately for us the conference was in November... to late to extend the visit enough to travel up to the highlands, which apparently get quite cold at that time of year.

If I had to apply to grad schools all over again, I wish I had extended my applications to include non-US places... namely including St. Andrew's (in Fife).

 

[calvinuk]

A friend and I that went to Scotland (for a conference 10 or so years ago) had no problem with the accent.. except when we asked the maitre-de for a recommendation of a "family-friendly" burger joint. He replied that he always took his family to the "Whore Pot"... which we repeat back to him and had him repeat. In following his directions, we didn't see any restaurant of such description, but we found one on our own after a few additional blocks. Eventually, on our return trip, we noticed the "Hot Spot."

We also toured to Edinburgh (a friend was on faculty there).. and seriously, we enjoyed Glasgow more, because it's more gritty and less polished "touristy" (although there was still plenty in Glasgow to do in our extra days). Getting out to less traveled areas (via the train or via the friend) was also great... unfortunately for us the conference was in November... to late to extend the visit enough to travel up to the highlands, which apparently get quite cold at that time of year.

If I had to apply to grad schools all over again, I wish I had extended my applications to include non-US places... namely including St. Andrew's (in Fife).

From what I've heard about St Andrews, it's a great university, but a terribly boring place to be.

 

[kbaumen]

Phew. First part of application is over. It has been submitted and now I'm waiting for it to be processed. Wish me luck!