Destinations like England, Japan, China and Vietnam are host to a lot of tourism throughout the year.
Salt Lake Community College students have the opportunity to not only see these places, but also immerse themselves in the cultures of these countries with the Study Abroad program.
“It has a lot of benefits for the students,” said Heidi Leer, a technician for the Study Abroad office. “You learn a lot about yourself and other cultures.”
The Study Abroad program aims to get students out into the world. It allows students to step out of their comfort zone and see how different areas of the world operate.
“When [students] come back they generally have a very positive attitude about what they experienced.” said Leer. “They’re really excited with the people they met, the friends that they made, and the opportunities they had.”
The opportunities are great, but the cost reflects the experience
The bill for these programs ranges from $3000 to $3800. For most students, this is a very significant financial commitment. On top of the program costs, students need to purchase a passport and bring money for food, laundry, travel and other expenses.
“I paid for everything myself and worked really hard to achieve this dream of mine,” said Robynn Clayton, a student from SLCC who studied abroad in May. “In retrospect, the price you pay to travel was small compared to what you learn. It was worth all I spent.”
In order to help with the high cost, the Study Abroad office has offered to help students figure out a way to save their money.
“If [students] want to come up with a figure,” said Leer. “Come in and talk to one of us and we can help you come up with a budget.”
Each program is led by a SLCC faculty member, and they come up with the curriculum. The teachers are different for each excursion.
“My teacher was great,” said Clayton. “He seemed to be able to answer every question anyone of us had. You could tell he has a passion for doing this.”
“You need to take a risk and go out and experience things you cannot learn through a textbook”
Most destinations offer similar activities, such as visiting landmarks, learning about a new culture, and a chance to explore a portion of the country they are in.
The one exception is Vietnam. Students going on that excursion will spend their time traveling to different cities visiting clinics and hospitals in order to help the populace.
The Study Abroad office believes that many students are still undecided about attending these programs. They encourage students to drop by their office and talk to them about the programs or to talk to students who have studied abroad before.
“You need to take a risk and go out and experience things you cannot learn through a textbook,” said Clayton. “A study abroad is one of the greatest things you can experience.”
