Can't Teach Experience by Shelby

Can't Teach Experience by Shelby - March 2016 Scholarship Essay

College is the gateway to success through education+ and development of knowledge to become successful in a specific career field. Everyday students are taught subjects such as trigonometry, American History, and Spanish. But, one thing college cannot teach us is how to see into the lives of other cultures and experience their world. The opportunity to study abroad is something I have looked forward to since I started applying to colleges. If, in some way, a study abroad program could be free or offer certain opportunities for students to earn money to participate, I definitely feel that every student enrolled in a university should be required to become a part of a study abroad program.
Studying abroad is very useful to students who are majoring in different languages. My Spanish teacher informed me that if she would have never spent a month in Puerto Rico, her Spanish-speaking skills would not be as well rounded as they are. Requiring students who are majoring in French to study abroad in France or students who are majoring in Chinese to study abroad in China, will allow these students to experience the life of these nations and be fully emerged in the language they are studying.
Studying abroad not only allows for the nourishment of a second language, but also allows students to become more open minded and better well-rounded. As Americans, it can be difficult to accept other cultures due to our strong nationalistic views. Americans are proud to be who they are, but often times we forget about all the different cultures and ethnicity around us. By requiring students to go to a foreign country to study abroad, the student becomes more knowledgeable about people who are different from themselves.
While colleges cannot force students to pay extra for a study abroad program that is not required, with certain grants and special opportunities, the program could become free. Students could enroll in work study programs in the foreign country to pay for it or the college could provide the money. Either way, with the right conditions, each student should be required to complete a study abroad program because it allows the students language diversity to flourish and provides them with a better understanding of the world around us.