Study Abroad: How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience [Paperback]

Michele-Marie Dowell (Author), Kelly P. Mirsky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 21, 2002 | ISBN-10: 0130499978 | ISBN-13: 978-0130499974 | Edition: 1

Via personalized exercises, this self-directed workbook guides users to fully capitalize on their study abroad experience. It offers a purposeful agenda to help travelers move from being the conventional tourist to an explorer who truly acquires an authentic view of another culture. Twenty-eight exercises invite learners to take an active role not only in their own preparation for the study abroad experience, but for their personal, academic, and professional growth—and demands from them a critical exploration of their beliefs, goals, and behaviors. The book covers personal development, learning about one's own culture, learning about another culture, professional development, and learning a language. Each strand of development is addressed at the three crucial phases of the experience: before, during and after the sojourn. For any student who has chosen to study abroad.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"By far the most exciting aspect of this book is that it provides an explicit mechanism for engaging students in the success of their own ventures overseas. It spells out for them what we educators think is , important, and hope they will accomplish, and, more important, it does this in a way that is not condescending and is unlikely to be off-putting to students." — William Cressey, Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer, Council on International Educational Exchange

From the Back Cover

Written by a study abroad coordinator (Musky) and a faculty director from a foreign language department (Dowell), Study Abroad: How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience is designed to maximize the quality and impact of this unique experience!

Study Abroad encourages students to create a whole narrative from the fragments of the experience.

Features

• The text promotes self-directed, guided reflection.
• It is written in journal-style with space to write.
• A well-articulated journey helps students address key issues throughout the pre-, during, and post- study abroad experiences.
• Great activities focus on the same five themes during each stage of the experience to enhance continuity and growth.
• Interesting activities are included throughout the text.
• The completed book is a permanent record of the study abroad experience.
• Practical appendices include Packing List, Money Matters, and Taking Care of Personal Business.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (November 21, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130499978
• ISBN-13: 978-0130499974
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #747,122 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Has everything you could think of and MORE!, February 20, 2004

By 

"kelly_renee" (currently in Tuebingen, Germany... originally from San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Study Abroad: How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience (Paperback)

After checking out most of the study abroad books on the market before I left, this book is by far my FAVORITE. I'm currently studying in Germany (August 2003-August 2004) and wish that I would have received this book sooner than the 1 month before I left. As the information above states, this book is arranged workbook-style with space for journaling & adding your own thoughts. It is very organized & divided into 3 main sections (Predeparture, Onsite & Re-Entry) with the same 5 units in each one: (1) Personal Development, (2) Learning About Your Own Culture, (3) Learning About Another Culture, (4) Professional Development, (5) Learning Another Language. It's great because you can do the exercises that are relevant to you (i.e. someone studying in England wouldn't do the Learning Another Language section). The book discusses that it was originally created to be used in a Study Abroad class that the students took the semester before they left. The Appendices cover the other information: My Contact Info Abroad, Address Book, Packing List, Money Matters, Taking Care of Personal Business, Extracurricular Travel Plans and Journal Pages. Personally, I haven't filled up the whole book, but reading through the exercises really helps to think about things you might not have realized would be issues. This book covers everything! As far as usability, it is very user friendly as a lightweight paperback and good size to write in without feeling too big. This book covers everything and I am extremely happy to own it! I will recommend it to anyone who is thinking about studying abroad in the future.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Was a gift, May 30, 2010

By 

Lisa M. Wachob "Ranchgirl" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Study Abroad: How to Get the Most Out of Your Experience (Paperback)

Was a gift for my nephew who is an exchange student. Little did I know Rotary was going to give him the same book. Must be a good book if they give it out to their exchange students to read.