The multitude of opportunities to study abroad may be one of Marshall’s best-kept secrets.
Part of Marshall University’s mission is to “create opportunities and experiences to foster understanding and appreciation of the rich diversity of thought and culture.” Those opportunities and experiences take many forms, but perhaps none illustrate that mission better than when Marshall students study in another country.
The multitude of opportunities to study around the world may be one of Marshall’s best-kept secrets. Students can choose to study at 300 sites in 42 countries, ensuring there is an opportunity to match almost any interest. Students can participate in exchange programs with universities in Spain, the United Kingdom, France and Japan, or join in programs led by Marshall faculty to Italy, El Salvador or China, among other countries. In addition, Marshall partners with affiliate travel-abroad agencies that send students to dozens of countries on almost every continent.
Tyler Sharp, program coordinator in the Office of International Student Services, says people often think study abroad is only for students who want to learn a foreign language, but any student can benefit from a summer or semester living in another country. In fact, many of the classes students take while abroad are taught in English, so being proficient in another language is not required.
“It is about the experience of getting out and seeing the world and being able to bring that back to campus,” Sharp says. “It is a resume builder. It is a character builder. It helps you develop the ability to understand other cultures and perspectives. It is just an all-around good experience for anyone.”
Students earn credit toward their degrees while studying abroad. They also gain an experience that helps them stand out from their peers in a competitive job market.
“When tech companies or companies located in bigger cities can see on a resume that someone has left their small corridor and ventured out into the wider world to study abroad, they really value that,” says Sharp.
Anastasia Artayet Shepherd, who graduated from Marshall with a degree in Spanish, spent a month studying in Madrid her senior year. She credits the experience with doing far more than helping her improve her Spanish proficiency — it led her to a career working with international students and gave her friendships that transcended country or language.
“It was amazing from the first moment when we landed in Madrid and had the opportunity to be fully immersed in the language. Being able to wake up every morning and sit in the cafes, listening to the conversations going on around us, meeting people from around the world, I could never have imagined that experience before,” she says. “We had classmates from Ireland, Australia and Germany. That was my first experience making friends abroad.”
She recalls singing “Country Roads, Take Me Home” with her German friends while doing karaoke.
“I still think of them every time I hear that song,” Shepherd says.
The idea of leaving the U.S. to study is daunting to some students. They may not believe they can afford to study abroad, or they may be overwhelmed by the process of making arrangements to travel overseas. Marshall’s Office of Study Abroad helps the student through every step of the process, from selecting which site is the best match for the student’s major and interests, to finding sources of funding, to making the final travel arrangements. Students are often surprised to learn how affordable it is to study abroad. Many programs offer scholarships and financial aid can be used to cover costs.
Erica Burns, a junior majoring in statistics and Japanese, spent a month studying at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea. She credits the month she spent in South Korea with giving her the confidence to consider working overseas someday, something she had been interested in doing but was not sure would be realistic.
“Studying abroad really pushed me out of my comfort zone,” Burns says. “While my mom came over to Seoul with me, she left after a week and I was an ocean away from anyone I knew. I had to learn how to maneuver the subway system, order food in a language I had only begun to learn and make new friends, all of which can be intimidating. But looking back it has given me confidence that I am able to do much more than I thought I could.”
In addition to studying, students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the culture of the country while they are abroad, through excursions to cultural and historical sites. Burns says while she was in South Korea, she went to the SMTOWN Museum (one of the biggest entertainment companies in Korea), Everland amusement park and the famous Gangnam District from the Gangnam Style song.
“It was the longest I had ever spent away from home, but it was also the first time that I wasn’t ready to come home when it was over,” she says.
Students bring these experiences and perspectives with them when they return to Marshall, enriching the campus community.
“Diversity of people and ideas is what a university is about. It is nice for students to go abroad and experience that diversity firsthand,” says Sharp.
Burns encourages her peers to take advantage of the opportunities Marshall offers to study abroad.
“For any student on the fence about studying abroad, I say take the leap. Studying in Korea was the best month of my life and I hope that other students will also have the opportunity to grow, learn, change and step out of their comfort zones.”
Shepherd agrees that more Marshall students should study abroad.
“You will always regret not taking the chance. You will never regret going,” she says. “It is something that will always make an impact on you. You will have experiences you would never have otherwise. And you find out so much about yourself when you are living abroad because you have to rely on yourself for things. After having that global experience, no matter what you end up doing in life, you will always be able to reflect on that and use it in your career or to help form relationships with other people.”
About the Author: Molly McClennen is a freelance writer who lives in Huntington, West Virginia.
Photos (from second from top):
Marshall student Erica Burns spent a month studying at Hanyang University in Seoul, South Korea.
Study Abroad Program Coordinator Tyler Sharp highlights the importance and benefits of studying abroad.