By SAMYOG POKHREL-WILLETT

CNJ 216
Posted on April 5, 2008

University of Miami’s study abroad programs take students to countries all over the world, from Argentina to France to Japan and Australia.  But students rarely apply to exchange programs in less well-known countries, like Trinidad & Tobago, South Korea, Slovenia and Poland, said Kefryn Block, assistant director of International Education and Exchange Programs. 

Block said most students only want the experience of traveling through Europe, and go for a semester or year in England or Spain to make that possible. “They [students] are scared to go to uncharted territory,” Block said.

Dr. Bruce Garrison, journalism professor, said European countries are popular because of their reputation, and a sense of familiarity and possible family heritage.

“They want to go to places that have a great reputation for students,” said Dr. Garrison, who teaches summer sessions abroad. He has taught journalism courses for UM students in the Czech Republic and China.

“I prefer teaching in China,” Garrison said.  “I find it more culturally appealing.”

Block said although many students look for universities abroad that offer courses in English, others seek to take courses in a foreign language and improve their language skills.  Spanish is generally thought of as a practical language to learn, making Spain a popular choice for UM students, after England and Australia.

France is also popular among students, who see French as another practical language to learn.

Sophomore Alex Strohmeyer, currently on an exchange program at Université Paris Dauphine in Paris, France, said the best way to learn a language is to live somewhere that it is spoken.  “Paris is an awesome city to live in, and I can improve my French at the same time,” said Strohmeyer, who is majoring in international marketing and finance and both French and Spanish.

SEMESTER AT SEA

The “Semester at Sea” program is another study abroad alternative, popular with students (see video).  They come from various universities in the United States and six other countries, and for one semester, hundreds of students live and take classes on a ship, stopping at different ports all around the world.

Junior international studies major Anthony Minerva’s trip took him to several places, such as the Bahamas, Brazil, South Africa, India, Vietnam and China.

His favorite stop was Salvador, Brazil. “It was really fun. The Brazilians made us feel like we were Brazilian, and we got that same feeling no matter where we went,” Minerva said.  “It was a really great experience.”

Programs still Accepting Applications:

Summer:

- American University of Paris
- Feature Writing in China
- London School of Economics
- University of Cantabria, Spain

Fall:

- Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico City

Sample Semester Programs for Fall 2008

Country	University	Sample Academic Areas	Courses in English?	Estimated Expenses (including UM tuition)
Australia	University of Sydney	-Architecture -Business -Humanities	Yes	$21,111
Brazil	Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio de Janeiro	-Economics -Fine Arts -Natural Sciences	No	$20,111
England	University of East Anglia	-Biological Sciences -Film Studies -International Studies	Yes	$23,811
France	Université Paris Dauphine	-Economics -Film and Drama Studies -Modern Languages	No	$23,511
Poland	Adam Mickiewicz University	-Anthropology -Education -Political Science	Yes	$19,236
South Korea	Yonsei University	-Korean Studies -Cultural Studies -Engineering	Yes	$20,111
Spain	Universidad Politécnica de Madrid	-Architecture -Engineering	No	$20,811
Trinidad & Tobago	University of the West Indies	-Agriculture -Natural Sciences -Social Sciences	Yes	$19,211