“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
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English for Study Abroad
Self-assessment, goals, systems and learning
Studying Abroad
Where are you coming from?
- What would you call the culture you are from?
- What major and interests in the major do you have?
- What would you like study (specifically) while abroad?
Why?
- Why do you want to study abroad?
- What country do you have in mind and why are you considering that country/university in particular?
How to study abroad?
- What do you know about the process of getting abroad for study?
- How does one apply to study abroad?
- What happens once you are in the country?
- What do you need to do once you return?
Activity - About culture and culture shock
How would you describe these phrases (from what they said)?
What are some examples from your own life experience?
- it's daunting
- to feel overwhelmed / it's overwhelming
- strange new surroundings
- transformed my life completely
With your neighbour and a piece of paper, brainstorm and write some notes about these topics:
- What do you know about your own home culture? - reactions, humour, problem solving, points at which your people get angry, things your people avoid, etc.
- Have you experienced an unexpected situation or misunderstanding because of cultural differences (or different expectations)? Tell us about it.
- What situations or interactions in a foreign country might you find challenging and why?
Write some notes to tell the others about the stories and thoughts.
Where are you at?
Where are your priorities?
Have a look at your list of B2 grammar you'd like to know (from B2 List of grammar)
Using your ! and !! (goals and priorities), have a quick discussion with your neighbours about your (and their) priorities and goals (reading, writing, listening, speaking, fluency, professional conversation, teaching vocabulary, etc.). Write down 2-3 priorities/goals from your group.
How to achieve these goals?
Put systems/habits in place
In your group, discuss:
- What is the next step or baby steps towards these goals?
- How to best learn and/or practice your target (reading, writing, listening, speaking, fluency, professional conversation, teaching vocabulary, etc.)?
- What daily/weekly system or habit will you put in place to progress towards your goal?
Intercultural Awareness
Initial discussion
- What do you know about the culture you are going to next?
- What other cultures have you experienced? What was different or unexpected?
- What different etiquette do you know of?
- What body language is not used in your home country?
Cultural Etiquette
Otherwise known as do's and don'ts, etiquette is usually our first port of call when researching our country's culture that we are travelling to.
A few etiquette rules
Decoding Body Language
How do you gesture...?
- hello / bye
- go away
- come here
- wait a minute
- what? (I don't understand)
- 1 of sth, 6 of sth (e.g. ordering food)
- let's drink / cheers
- thank you / I'm grateful
Sometimes, humans are humans and some body language is universal and shows how we are very much the same. Have a read of these revealing secrets behind common non-verbal cues.
- Have you ever noticed someone's feet, hands or arms while they are talking with you?
- Ever seen someone who wasn't cold but crossed their arms?
- Ever seen someone point their feet at someone or something else while talking to you?
Take a moment to look at other people's body language on the street, in drama shows on TV or people actually talking with you (careful of looking weird). What's their body language saying?