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FYI SOUTH Magazine, March 2003. VOL.3 ISSUE 3

Cover Story:

Getting Internationalized by Courtney Donovan Smith / ¥ÛªF¤åµÛ

     If you're looking for the true meaning of "internationalization" in Taiwan, there's no better place to start than international educational experiences. Whether one is talking to a Taiwanese just back from years of graduate study in Britain, or an American working towards Mandarin fluency at a local language school, first-hand perspectives offer tremendous insights into the ups and downs, benefits and difficulties of broadening one's horizons and knowledge in a foreign country.

     With the season of educational fairs upon us and a new batch of students preparing to hurl themselves into the unknown, FYI SOUTH interviewed Taiwanese who¡¦ve studied overseas, foreigners currently studying in Taiwan, and overseas education professionals to gain some insights into the experience. Despite the difficulties some encountered, all were overwhelmingly positive; every one of the students saying they would do it again if they could.

So what's in it for me?

Ya-Chi Huang describes the benefits of studying overseas as twofold: "Learning about different cultures, and improving my English" Enhancing language skills has always been one of the prime motivations for studying overseas, as Victoria Xie of the Taipei Language Institute (TLI) notes of students coming to Taiwan to study Chinese: "Students here are immersed in the language." As linguistic abilities improve, so does confidence. Dale Mackie of Wan Hsyan Overseas English (WHOSE) says of summer English program students: "When they return, their confidence in speaking English is much higher. They become more outgoing, and more willing to state their own opinion."      Gaining familiarity with the values, concepts and patterns of a different culture has always been an important goal for those studying abroad. "When you are involved in another culture it will broaden your perspective," says Brandon Shultz, who studies Chinese in Taiwan. Sylvia Huang, who studied in Scotland, puts it this way: "Studying overseas really broadened my vision."

    Another advantage many commented on was the flexibility of studying overseas and differences in teaching methods. "It creates students that are independent problem-solvers," says Mark Uerkvitz of the Learning and Achievement Foundation, about studying in America. Sean Jones of the United Kingdom Education Advisory Service (UKEAS) agrees: "Studying overseas is popular because students have more control over what subjects they want to study." Students also commented on this. "The best part about studying in the UK is that the teachers try to help you find your own answers," says Claire Yang.

Loosening the binds

     Some respondents felt an increased sense of freedom. Mark Uerkvitz notes of students abroad, "I think they enjoy the possibility to explore independently what they are interested in, away from their family." Yu-So Lee describes the best part about studying abroad as, "The freedom. If you are in your home country, there are so many things you have to concentrate on, your work, your family..."

Some "worst" experiences

Adapting to a foreign diet is sometimes traumatic, while another common problem is loneliness, especially when first arriving overseas. Alice Lin describes her Korean housemate as her worst experience: "She burned my kitchen! She forgot to turn off the stove and left the house. The damage was over AU$900." Kidy Huang managed to sprain her ankle twice in three weeks. One student in Canada complained about being knocked out of her chair by someone from the Middle East, and Brandon isn't thrilled with the traffic in Taiwan. Clearly, however, the prize for the worst experience abroad must go to Sylvia Huang, who was subjected to traditional Scottish food and is still trying to recover from the experience.

Some "best" experiences

     In addition to learning the language and a new culture, many of the interviewees enjoyed traveling and making new friends. Ya-Chi, not surprisingly, enjoyed the beaches and lifestyle in Hawaii. Alice, perhaps to make up for her kitchen experience, managed to win money in the lottery. But, certainly, the most heartwarming story comes from Emily Chen. When she missed her bus stop one day in Canada, the driver finished his route and, like an oversized taxi, delivered her right to her doorstep.

Words of Wisdom from those who went before

Ya-Chi sums up the practical issues: "First, you have to know the requirements of the school. Second, you have to know the environment of the school and, third, you have to calculate the expense. You need to be open to accept different people and different cultures. And don't always stick around with Taiwanese people. Otherwise, you won't learn English." TLI's Victoria Xie points out that, "The wrong attitude or a sense of superiority to the local culture will make learning to integrate impossible." Similarly, Brandon notes, "If you are going to study abroad, you have to go in with the attitude of a learner. Remember that people have different viewpoints and that you are there to learn from them."

    Dale Mackie of WHOSE points out, "Students who stay at a homestay return with a better cultural understanding and significantly higher improvement in their English abilities." But, he suggests, "make sure the educational institution has a rigorous screening and follow-up program when approving homestay families." Perhaps Sara Lin's response best sums up the advice of respondents: "I would encourage them to go!"