Although students can get a good education in most subjects at their home universities, it is important to study abroad for one’s college education. Studying abroad can give a student competency in a new language, familiarity with a different culture, and a chance to grow in different ways.

    One cannot deny that it is important to be bilingual or even multilingual in today’s fast-paced world. We have a global economy and instant communication by Internet and satellite TV, and this means we must be familiar with other languages in order to keep up with new developments.

    Knowing other cultures is also important today. Respect for other people and their traditions will foster cooperation and peace. We should all play our part to make the world safe for our children. It will only be safe if we understand and respect other people and cultures.

When we are out of our comfort zones, we feel freer to experiment and try new things. We are all individuals and we need time to be on our own, away from the safety of our homes. We may try different things and reject them. We might also adopt them for ourselves. People can change, and it is easier to change when you are away from the people and places you are used to.

Studying abroad can be enriching. Not only can we learn new languages and about different cultures, but also we can learn more about ourselves too, while getting an formal education at the same time.