STUDY ABROAD
Posted by: WittyRuby on: March 30, 2006
Hong-Ngoc Nguyen
Instructor: Mrs. Tiana Marie Escarcida
Coms 100, section 1
10 February 2006
Self-Introductory Speech
Study Abroad
I don't know whether any of you have ever studied abroad. If you did, you would know already how it was. As you can see, I'm experiencing that right now. I'm here at this university from a country very far away, Vietnam. Today , I will talk about how my life has changed and what I can learn while spending time in the United States.
news.bbc.co.uk
Studying abroad is an experience that changes my life in many aspects. Stepping back in time, I was never further 200 miles from home without my parents beside me. Duc Nguyen, my father, in a talk with me last Sunday, February 5, said "Oh, I cannot believe it. Not long ago I still hold you in my arms and suddenly you flew away." You can understand that if you know I'm the youngest girl in my family.
from the plane's window
I was not in the habit of reading instructions before doing something. After coming here, I found so many new things that couldn't be explained in a brief time. I had to read a whole bunch of instruction sheets at the beginning of my first semester.
Chatting online was the activity I did not spend much time on. Now it is the easiest and cheapest way to keep track of everybody in my home city.
So far, I hardly deny the benefits of studying abroad. That's my second point. A survey of the Institute for the International Education of Students mentioned by Mary Dwyer and Courtney Peters, "Transitions Abroad" magazine, 2004, from the more than 3,400 respondents, show that "study abroad positively and unequivocally influences the self-confidence of students." That is true, I have to deal with my problems all by my self. I cannot rely on my parents any more to disentangle my stuff as if I were a little girl anymore.
I also know that "The best way to learn a language is to be immersed in its culture." Real living in America gives me the opportunity to improve my English. I must use English to study, communicate and express my feelings in every day life.
Studying and doing all my homework in English is a challenge. It is so since not long ago, I was surrounded by a Vietnamese academic culture. However, how one can grow up if she doesn't have any challenge in her life. Don't you think so?
In conclusion, I can hardly tell you more how excited I am to be an international student. Undoubtedly, study abroad has caused a lot of change in my life. By enduring academic change, I learn and gain many benefits. I hope now you can imagine how my experience has been, even if you have never been far from home. What more I can say? If you have a chance to study abroad, go ahead!
Thanks to Bill who helped edit my speech.
Word Cited
Benefits to studying abroad.University of
Indianapolis. Available online at http://international.uindy.edu/studyabroad/benefits.php
Mary Dwyer and Courtney Peters. (2004, March/April). The benefits of study abroad. “Transitions Abroad” magazine. Available online at: http://www.transitionsabroad.com/publications/magazine/0403/benefits_study_abroad.shtml
5 Responses to "STUDY ABROAD"
April 5, 2006 at 7:23 pm
Thanks for your comment. But I still not get your idea that "the real benefit is not something 'real' to be described in an article." I found it a little bit unclear.
April 13, 2006 at 9:05 am
Don’t you mean, “Work Cited”? 
I think what your friend Leduytien was talking about was the intangible benefits of studying abroad. Something intangible is not real in the physical sense, but it is something you can carry with you in your heart and mind. When I studied abroad in Germany, I came back knowing much more than when I left. I realized that my home country is not the only place in the world, and I think you stated that beautifully in your article. Leduytien is also right; it is difficult to put experiences into words. It’s like the Grand Canyon in Arizona; you can’t tell someone what it’s like, they have to experience it for themselves. Just like you said, “If you have the chance, go ahead!”
Thanks for crediting me, too, by the way! 
September 19, 2011 at 9:59 am
I’m sure you now have a lot more to say than what you said in this essay. Love reading your blog. Keep writing, sweetie. I’m proud of you, my baby sis.
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April 2, 2006 at 1:36 am
It’s the way you write this post, the way you add the “Word Cite” section at the end of the post that are the most apparent benefit of studying abroad. From my experience so far, I think the most valuable thing is the change in the way you see the world and the way you think about everything. The real benefit is not something “real” to be described in an article.