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View a Powerpoint slideshow regarding our Goettingen study abroad program.
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Goethe-Institut, Göttingen
Study Abroad
Why Study Abroad?
There a variety of reasons for studying in Germany, whether academic, linguistic, personal, social, or cultural. Chief among the many benefits afforded by studying abroad are the ways in which the experience enriches your life. If you were to ask our students or former students who have studied in Tübingen or Göttingen what their time abroad has meant to them, they would likely tell you that it was a life-changing experience and one of the most rewarding endeavors they have ever undertaken. But there are other, equally-important, and far more concrete reasons why you should consider studying abroad:
...Use and improve the German language skills you’ve spent so much time and effort acquiring
The best way to learn a language is to live in a culture in which it is spoken. Our students make leaps and bounds in their linguistic ability on both the Göttingen summer program and the Tübingen semester/year program. With opportunities to speak and interact outside the classroom, you’ll develop much more fluent, “natural” speaking skills, a more comprehensive ability to read, and a greater precision in your written German.
...Earn credits that can bring you closer to completing your German major or minor and credits for other subjects
You can earn up to 10 German credits with the Göttingen program and up to 17 credits per semester in German and in other disciplines with the Tübingen program.
...Get to know German culture first-hand and expand your worldview
Cultural differences run deeper than just variations in language, food, clothing and music. By immersing yourself in German culture, you learn about the underlying values, beliefs and historical experiences that inform the ways in which Germans interact with the world around them. At the end of your experience, you’ll return home better informed about not only Germany and Europe in particular, but the world in general.
...Find out more about yourself and your own culture and develop new skills
Living and studying in another culture and another language can be challenging, but it can also allow you to step outside your comfort zone, enabling you to discover and develop new skills and abilities, such as resourcefulness, problem-solving, patience, adventurousness, and flexibility. In addition, the experience of living abroad can help you gain an important perspective on your own culture and give you a better appreciation of cultural differences.
...Build your resume and impress prospective employers
In an increasingly global workplace, applicants who have foreign-language skills, international experience and knowledge about other cultures stand out. In addition, employers value the skills that students gain from living abroad, such as independence, self-motivation, problem-solving, and a willingness to take risks.
...See Germany and Europe
Studying abroad provides excellent opportunities for travel, both within Germany and to neighboring countries in Europe. During weekends and academic breaks, you’ll have the opportunity to explore both your immediate surroundings and more distant cities and regions. In addition, on the Tübingen program, you will take a number of day trips and extended trips to places like Berlin and Munich.
...Make friends from all over the world
You will have the opportunity on both the Göttingen and the Tübingen programs to meet not only Germans your own age, but international students from all over the world.
...Now’s the time
This is the best time for you to spend an extended period of time abroad. After you graduate and begin to take on family and work responsibilities, you’ll find it much more difficult to find the opportunity to live in Germany.
More Information
For more information regarding Study Abroad opportunties, please contact Erin McGlothlin (Tübingen year abroad and semester abroad programs), Matt Erlin (Göttingen summer abroad program), or Stephan Schindler (Koblenz Business program). More information is also available at our information session in Fall semester, Göttingen-Tübingen Day.
