Maximizing Study Abroad: : A Student's Guide to Strategies for Language and Culture Learning and Use

by R. Michael Paige

As a study abroad student, you're not just a tourist - you are embarking on something much richer. This flexible guide provides specific strategies for improving your language and culture learning so your time spent abroad will be as meaningful and productive as you hope. The guide begins with three surveys to help you recognize how you currently learn language and culture. The remaining sections are filled with tools, creative activities, and advice you can use to enhance your culture and language learning. Use this guide as you prepare for study aboard, during your experience, and once you return - with a little bit of preparation, you can assure yourself you are doing all you can to maximize your study abroad experience.

237 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2004

Reviews

[Alessandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great guide; I would make this required reading for my students if I could! The book touches on a number of key concepts and theories about cultural adaptation and language acquisition (kind of like a one-stop shop for your cultural adaptation essentials), and provides some great tools that students can employ to effectively prepare themselves and make the most of their time abroad in the way that makes sense for them.

In some ways, I think it would also be relevant for students or others who have returned from a time abroad in terms of helping them to process their experience and extract meaning and reflection in ways they may not have been able to do otherwise - I know I found myself doing that while reading and I now have plans to journal retroactively to put as much as I can down on paper!

I initially read it to get some ideas on how to flesh-out my pre-departure orientations, but it ended up making me want to go abroad myself to try out the strategies the guide proposes! (Now to convince my bosses that's a good idea. ;) )

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little dry but I think overall it will be helpful

[Carmen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very good book about preparing for your study abroad experience.