Erasmus / Study Abroad Problems? | The Truth about the International Student Experience

Almost Austin

26 Aug 201906:04

Summary

TLDRIn this video, Austin discusses the challenges of studying abroad in Marseille, France, focusing on the difficulties of integrating into the local community and culture. He highlights the allure of the international student community, which can inadvertently hinder interaction with locals. He also addresses the barriers to engaging with native students, the limited daily language practice, taking English-taught classes, and the tendency to travel rather than explore the host city. Austin concludes by acknowledging different study abroad goals and encourages viewers to share their experiences.

Takeaways

🌍 The speaker, Austin, studied abroad in Marseille, France, and shares a critical perspective on the experience, focusing on the challenges of integrating into the local culture.
👥 The large international student community can be a double-edged sword, offering opportunities to meet diverse people but also leading to a social bubble that excludes locals.
🏫 Engaging with local students is challenging due to social economics; they may not prioritize forming relationships with those who will leave soon.
🗣️ Language barriers, particularly in France where English proficiency among students may be low, can hinder integration and limit daily practice of the local language.
🏛️ Daily life offers little need for complex language use, which can lead to minimal language acquisition despite living in a foreign country.
📚 Taking classes in English can impede language learning, as all academic work and interactions are in English, reducing exposure to the local language.
🌆 Traveling every weekend can detract from truly experiencing and integrating into the city where one lives, as time spent in the host city is limited.
🎉 Some students may prioritize partying and traveling over cultural engagement, which is a valid approach but not conducive to deep cultural immersion.
🤔 The video acknowledges that study abroad experiences are highly subjective and depend on personal goals and the nature of the host school.
🌟 Despite the challenges, Austin recommends study abroad as a great opportunity and encourages others to participate if they can.

Q & A

What is the main issue discussed in the video script?
-The main issue discussed is the challenges and downsides of studying abroad, particularly focusing on the difficulties of integrating into the local community and culture.
Why does the speaker feel that the international student community can be a double-edged sword?
-The speaker feels that the international student community is a double-edged sword because while it offers the opportunity to meet people from all over the world, it can also lead to a situation where international students primarily socialize with each other and not with the local population.
What is the challenge the speaker faced in engaging with the local student body?
-The speaker faced the challenge of engaging with the local student body due to social economics; local students already have established friend groups and activities, and they may not be inclined to invest in friendships with exchange students who are only there temporarily.
Why might the language barrier be a significant issue for exchange students in France?
-The language barrier is significant because a considerable percentage of the student body may not speak English well, which can hinder communication and integration into the local community.
How does the speaker describe the level of language practice required for daily tasks in the host country?
-The speaker describes the level of language practice required for daily tasks as minimal, suggesting that basic phrases and gestures are often sufficient for transactions.
What is the impact of taking classes in English on language immersion?
-Taking classes in English can hinder language immersion as it reduces opportunities to practice the local language, and it may also result in socializing primarily with other international students who are also taking classes in English.
Why might traveling every weekend be counterproductive for cultural immersion?
-Traveling every weekend can be counterproductive for cultural immersion because it takes time away from exploring and experiencing the city where the student is living, potentially missing out on local experiences and connections.
What is the speaker's recommendation for students who want to engage with the local community and culture?
-The speaker recommends that students who want to engage with the local community and culture should actively seek out opportunities to interact with locals, take classes in the local language if possible, and balance travel with time spent in the host city.
What does the speaker suggest as a potential issue with the study abroad experience?
-The speaker suggests that a potential issue with the study abroad experience is that some students may focus on partying and traveling, rather than engaging with the local community and culture.
What advice does the speaker give to those who are going on an exchange soon?
-The speaker advises those going on an exchange soon to consider their goals for the experience, such as language learning and cultural immersion, and to actively seek out opportunities to achieve those goals.

Outlines

00:00

🌍 Challenges of Study Abroad: Integration and Cultural Experience

The speaker, Austin, shares his personal experience of studying abroad in Marseille, France, and discusses the challenges he faced in integrating into the local culture. He highlights the paradox of the international student community, which, while offering the opportunity to meet diverse individuals, can also hinder interaction with local students. Austin points out that the ease of communication and activities within the international group can make it less necessary to engage with locals. He also touches on the difficulty of making local friends due to their established social circles and the transient nature of exchange students. Additionally, Austin mentions the language barrier, suggesting that even basic language skills can suffice for daily tasks, limiting the need for deeper language practice. The paragraph concludes with a critique of taking classes in English, which he argues further reduces opportunities to learn and use the local language.

05:02

🎒 Balancing Travel and Local Experience During Study Abroad

In the second paragraph, Austin addresses the tendency of some exchange students to prioritize travel over immersing themselves in the city they live in. He acknowledges that while traveling is a key aspect of the study abroad experience, it can detract from truly experiencing the host city. He suggests that students who are constantly on the move may miss out on the local culture and community. Austin concludes by reiterating that while study abroad offers a great opportunity for personal growth and cultural exchange, it's important for students to be aware of the potential pitfalls and to make a conscious effort to engage with the local community and culture. He encourages viewers to share their thoughts and experiences in the comments and to consider studying abroad if they have the chance.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Study Abroad

Study abroad refers to the experience of attending an educational institution in a country other than one's own. In the video, the speaker reflects on their personal study abroad experience in Marseille, France, and discusses the challenges they faced in integrating with the local culture. The term is central to the video's theme, as it sets the context for the discussion on the difficulties and misconceptions about studying in a foreign country.

💡Passive Integration

Passive integration is the concept of naturally becoming part of a new community or culture without actively seeking it. The speaker mentions hoping for a high degree of passive integration into the host community and culture, which implies a desire to be immersed in the local way of life without having to make a concerted effort. This is contrasted with the reality of often defaulting to socializing within the international student community.

💡International Student Community

The international student community refers to the group of students from various countries studying abroad. The video describes how this community can be a double-edged sword, offering the opportunity to meet diverse individuals but also potentially hindering interaction with local students. The speaker's experience of being part of this community in France led to a lack of engagement with the local population.

💡Local Student Body

The local student body consists of students who are native to the country or region where the study abroad program is taking place. The video discusses the challenges of engaging with this group, as they may already have established social circles and may not be inclined to include temporary international students. This term is crucial for understanding the barriers to cultural immersion discussed in the video.

💡Social Economics

Social economics, in the context of the video, refers to the social dynamics and economic considerations that influence social interactions. The speaker mentions that local students may not invest in friendships with those who are only staying temporarily due to the limited time they have together. This concept helps explain why it might be difficult for international students to integrate into the local community.

💡Language Barrier

A language barrier is the difficulty in communication experienced when people do not share a common language. The video highlights the language barrier as a significant factor in the speaker's inability to engage with the local community in France, as many students did not speak English well. This barrier limited the opportunities for organic language practice and cultural exchange.

💡Passive Organic Daily Practice

Passive organic daily practice refers to the incidental learning and use of a language that occurs through everyday interactions. The video points out that such practice can be surprisingly limited, even in a foreign country, as basic communication needs can be met with minimal language skills. This concept is used to illustrate the lack of language immersion despite living abroad.

💡Traveling

Traveling, in the context of the video, refers to the common activity of international students to visit other cities or countries during their study abroad experience. The speaker notes that while traveling is a valuable part of the study abroad experience, it can detract from truly experiencing and integrating into the city where one is based, as students may be absent from their host city frequently.

💡Cultural Immersion

Cultural immersion is the process of becoming deeply involved in and understanding a different culture. The video discusses the speaker's desire for cultural immersion and the obstacles they encountered in achieving it. This term is central to understanding the video's message about the importance of engaging with the local culture beyond the international student community.

💡Exchange Students

Exchange students are those who study at a university or college in a country other than their own as part of a cultural exchange program. The video uses the term to describe the speaker's own experience and to address the specific challenges and behaviors common among this group, such as the tendency to socialize primarily with other international students and to travel frequently on weekends.

💡Sellout Clickbait

Sellout clickbait refers to content that is created primarily to attract views or clicks, often by promising sensational or controversial information. The speaker uses this term self-deprecatingly to describe their video, suggesting that it may be perceived as following a trend or pandering to viewers' expectations for dramatic or negative stories about study abroad experiences.

Highlights

Studying abroad can be challenging due to the lack of integration into the local community and culture.

The international student community can be a double-edged sword, offering connections but potentially isolating you from locals.

The tendency to hang out with international peers can lead to missing out on meeting locals.

Engaging with the local student body can be difficult due to social and economic factors.

Local students may be hesitant to form deep connections with exchange students who are leaving soon.

In France, a significant portion of the student population may not speak English well, creating a language barrier.

Daily tasks often require minimal local language skills, limiting organic language practice.

Taking classes in English can hinder language acquisition and integration into the local culture.

Classes in English often attract other international students, reinforcing the separation from local peers.

Traveling every weekend can detract from truly experiencing and integrating into the city where you live.

Some exchange students may prioritize partying and traveling over cultural engagement.

Study abroad is a great opportunity but comes with challenges for those seeking deep cultural immersion.

The video provides a realistic perspective on the potential issues one might face while studying abroad.

The speaker recommends study abroad to anyone who has the opportunity, despite the mentioned challenges.

The video encourages viewers to share their own study abroad experiences and upcoming plans in the comments.

The speaker concludes by encouraging viewers to consider study abroad opportunities at their schools.