TRAVEL, STAY AND STUDY ABROAD or the importance of using a language and study it in a foreign country

As the date of the final exam for the 4^th year students is approaching I notice overriding concerns for being well prepared and go through all the topics which might be subject of the exam.

In February we focused primarily on English speaking countries. Students prepared excellent versions of different topics, presentations, short films and descriptions of places.

One of the presentations was particularly engaging. Why? What made it so absorbing?

It was based on personal experiences in abroad.

The student had stayed and studied at High School in Canada. It was a life-changing experience and one of the most rewarding things I have ever done, he said. 
Being immersed in an entirely new cultural setting could be scary at first, but it's also exciting. 

Cultural differences are more than just differences in language, food and personal habits.

Those who experience cultural differences personally can come to truly understand the others. That’s not just the matter of the language.

In addition, study abroad gives your language skills. You're surrounded by the language on a daily basis and are seeing and hearing it in the proper cultural context. There is no better and more effective way to learn a language than to be immersed in a culture that speaks the language you are learning.