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Part 2 - Continuing from "Why Study Abroad" - by Elizabeth G
Here are some of the questions you may be asking as you make your decision about whether or not a semester abroad is right for you:
How long does it take to become fluent?
My standard answer to this is that everyone has their own definition of fluent, so I always try to get more specifics on what exactly they want to accomplish. A general basic example is that if you are an absolute beginner and go for one month with little/no English spoken you will be very conversational in the present tense (at the very least), will be able to understand most things, but will still not be able to say as much as you would like to.
From my own personal experience, I learned and improved my Spanish more in 4 months in Spain than I did from 6 years of classroom instruction here in the U.S.
What if I get homesick or hate where I am?
If this happens, chances are you're experiencing culture shock. For an in-depth look at this issue, read my article on culture shock found here:
Is this appropriate for my major or will I just be behind when I get back to campus?
This is something you should talk to your advisor about. You definitely don't want to risk getting behind. The biggest problem you may have is those pesky courses that are only offered once a year. Ultimately, this could determine which semester will be best for you to go. In addition, many study abroad programs offer elective courses applicable to a variety of majors.
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