Students tour Florence while studying abroad.
ANDREW MANNION/THE QUADRANGLE
By Andrew Mannion, Asst. Sports Editor
New summer study abroad trips are being planned for Manhattan College students to visit countries around the globe and have the opportunity to learn about different cultures and ideas while earning course credits in the process.
There are eight individual trips being offered among six countries, which include Italy, France, Portugal, Spain, Japan and Mexico. These trips range in duration, lasting anywhere from two weeks to almost a month. During this time, students have made it clear that they learn many new experiences while in a new country.
Whether it be the semester-long trips or trips over the winter and summer intersessions, spots often fill up quickly and are competitive to get.
Paul Droubie, Ph.D., mentioned why he believes the spots are so competitive.
“I think the semester-long programs attract relatively adventurous students who want to really immerse themselves in a different culture,” Droubie said. “It really is the best way to learn a language, but also learn something about yourself and your own country. Short-term programs are obviously much more convenient and easily fit into existing schedules, plus you get a few credits.”
Besides the benefits of being in a new country, students also get the opportunity to take a three-credit class towards their degree. The class is started and finished all within the time that the students travel to another country while being immersed in the new culture.
Lucas Haas, a student who studied in Florence, talked about how different a day of class is in Italy compared to at Manhattan College.
“You’ll spend some time within actual class time, with a professor, but you’re really going out and about and exploring everything and seeing it with your eyes,” Haas said. “You’re learning the culture, the language and talking to people that are so immersed in the culture. That had to be the most different part.”
One aspect that may worry students is the workload that comes with studying abroad. Most students would rather be out within the city they are traveling to than doing schoolwork throughout their time. Haas remarked on the workload during his trip and how it is very doable for all students.
“I went there for [Br. Robert Berger’s] Catholic and Saints Imagination class, and the workload was manageable,” Haas said. “It really wasn’t that bad at all for the experience that you get out of it. It’s totally worth it.”
The director of the study abroad program, Emmett Ryan, Ph.D., also remarked on the importance of studying abroad. He emphasized the benefits that a student would gain from studying outside of the classroom and the uncommon experience of being encapsulated within the content which you are learning about.
“Study abroad is a way to learn outside of the classroom and you can learn things that you can’t just learn from reading or in a classroom by learning through experience,” Ryan said. “It’s really important for our students.”
Even with such a great opportunity, studying abroad still is a big commitment for a student. Ryan says his best advice to students is to not overthink it too much. He spoke on how the benefits can often be overlooked and cause students to miss out on a great experience.
“It’s like diving into a really cold pool,” Ryan stated. “Just close your eyes and hold your breath and just jump right in. And you’ll find once you get over that hurdle of actually doing it, that experiencing the places is not that bad, and they really leave an impact on you. And you’ll be glad you did it afterwards.”