">LIVING ABROAD
2008-01-18 @ 17:40:14
STUDYING ABROAD
How can you gain in maturity, independence and foreign language fluency? The answer is by staying in a foreign country, fitting in with the host family's lifestyle, and coping daily with a strange school, a strange town and a strange culture. The greatest ordeal for some adolescents is leaving their family environment. For some parents, it is letting their child go. The test for other youngsters is learning how to live with perfect strangers or tackling classes in a foreign language. The real challenge for these young people is assimilating a new language and culture.
Why should you try?
Yet, every year, over two thousand Polish adolescents are motivated enough to overcome these problems and head for adventure with the help of one of the twenty organizations offering long-term language trips. These trips are for young people between 15 and 18 and, in some cases, 19 years old. Free or paid accommodation is provided with a host family, depending on the organization and the country of destination. The organizations also make provisions for education in a secondary school or college with the possibility of preparing for any end-of-year examinations.
If you want to achieve fluency in another language, the immersion route is the best way to go.
But the immersion experience can be unsuccessful if not approached with a great deal of flexibility and an appreciation for how difficult it is to learn a second language and to adjust to new culture. Bilingual schools can work as a transition to an immersion experience on a variety of levels.
The vast majority of participants return literally transformed. Young people who have spent time abroad are more sure of themselves and of what they want to do with their lives. They have discovered a sense of responsibility and a respect for others and their differences. They have sharpened their curiosity and open-mindedness, They are fluent in then "adoptive" country’s language, whatever their level might have been before they left Poland. In a lot of ceases they become ten times more enthusiastic about their studies. They often keep in close contact with the voluntary family with whom they stayed. Finally, many of them follow up their initiation into the community spirit by becoming active members of the association which they traveled.
How to assess an organization’s professionalism?
The longer you stay, the more carefully you should choose the organization to which you entrust your safety. The best information is undeniably obtained by word of mouth. However, it is also important to differentiate between the organizations specialized in long-term trips and those for whom this type of trip is a secondary activity. Separate the non-profit associations from the commercial companies, whose motivations are very different. Also, find out about the internal organization of the establishment. Does it have a network of correspondents abroad? Are these correspondents voluntary? How are they recruited? Ask the same questions about the host families. Then determine how carefully the candidates are chosen: motivation interview; files describing the candidates' lifestyles, preferences and personalities as well as the type of host family they would like; a school report and letters of recommendation; a medical file; and courses taken to prepare for the departure ... and the return! As regards prices, you should obviously compare what is comparable! Most organizations publish all-inclusive prices, but it is worth checking whether the price in question includes vital insurance, education fees abroad and even the selection and preparation lees before the departure. The total price should logically cover all of the youngster's expenses, with the exception of his pocket money.
A year gained or a year wasted?
By and large, adolescents go abroad for a year after passing the exam which is checking their language level. Poland does not officially recognize the equivalence of secondary school curriculum. However, some pupils manage to negotiate this equivalence individually with their schools, for example by taking a skills test in order to enter the upper education. If in spite of all your efforts, the year spent abroad is not taken into account by the Polish system does it then constitute a ‘wasted’ year? Adults who went on trips when they were adolescents often tell that their year abroad has not only been a plus point on their CVs, but that the experience gained is of incomparable value and an asset for life.
What about the problem with the homecoming?
Living abroad isn’t for everyone. Just thinking of what you can gain should have you raring to go. The more you want to get out of your time abroad, the more focused you will be when you are away. Organizers of one year trips abroad all describe the same changes in the young expatriate’s enthusiasm and morale. The adolescent is euphoric for first three months. He becomes a ‘fighter’, raring to take on the challenge of language. Everything is new and fantastic and he is proud of how quickly he is fitting in. the turning point comes between the two terms and holidays. He starts to feel the burden of being far from his parents and friends. Daily life loses its exotic flavor and depression is just around the corner! This is why some organizations schedule a series of meetings to support the adolescents and prevent them from giving up their project prematurely. The arrival of spring sees the youngster as integral part of his new family. He understands everything and expresses himself with ease. He has made a lot of friends at school. In short, he is well-integrated and will soon no longer want to return to Poland. As the plane lands in Poland, he wonders whether his parents have changed and whether they will instantly be as close as they use to be. When the parents see their child at the airport, they hardly recognize him. He has grown up. The return is why some organizations have also put together return preparation programmes, which allow the youngsters to make the most of their experience abroad.
Being a foreign student.
First of all, when youngsters learn, they sometimes have to work. When they are late for school, the teacher will pay attention to them.
When they are late for work, the chef probably will dismiss them. Moreover, they do have to worry about money. Their parents are not doing everything for them anymore. And they have to concentrate on lessons.
They have to learn a lot because their language is not good enough. What is more, they have to be responsible.
They can of course sometimes make mistakes. School teaches youngsters many important things. They must manage in embarrassing or hopeless situations. When they are in terrible plight, they must be in full control of the situation. They learn how to keep it under control.
All in all life at school is sometimes hard to tolerate, but it is better than life in an adult world. It seems that more young people prefer school life.
WORKING ABROAD
More and more Poles are looking for seasonal employment abroad. Poles have a reputation for being conscientious, industrious, efficient and cheerful workers. The number of seasonal workers increases significantly in summer when they are employed in agriculture and catering.
The majority of Polish seasonal workers regularly go to Germany. Typical jobs include picking asparagus, strawberries, apples and tomatoes. German employers also hire skilled builders, baby-sitters, mechanics and shop-assistants. In Italy, most Poles work on the citrus-fruit plantations, while others are usually employed as cooks, waiters or industrial workers. In France, Polish people pick grapes, in Spain- strawberries, and in Sweden - bilberries.
Many employment agencies in Poland get thousands of offers from foreign companies looking for bakers, confectioners, butchers, roofers, welders, foresters and
psysiotherapists. The Norwegians are ready to take on hundreds of fishermen, sailors, shipyard workers and electricians. The Dutch seek nurses and gardeners, and the Swiss- farm-hands. Although the British are rather reluctant to employ foreigners, they do hire barmen, receptionists, chambermaids and cooks for the hotels and restaurants. The seasonal worker ‘elite’ are experts in computer science and telecommunications. Computer programmers can easily find employment in Ireland, Germany and Holland. Ireland also needs architects and construction engineers. Scandinavian countries offer job contracts to doctors, dentists and nurses.
Although the unemployment rate in Europe is high and amounts to 14 million, many countries suffer from a labour shortage in some trades. Generally, two types of employee are sought: the qualified specialist who has a good command of foreign languages or the unskilled or semi-skilled manual labourer for simple, agricultural, building and catering jobs.
The Poles and their weak points
What about the nature of the Poles, so praised by Winston Churchill during World War II? Are we still perceived as a great nation? Not necessarily. Undoubtedly, we have many character traits in our favour such as hospitality, generosity and patriotism. However, our Achilles' heel is our lack of optimism. Polish people seem to be gloomy, unenthusiastic and unfriendly. We rarely smile and have no confidence in our abilities. In the West, especially in the England, it is standard to 'keep smiling', even in times of trouble, but in Poland most people are fatalists who prefer to complain and grouch. Moreover, we are accused of being un-enterprising and lacking in initiative. We are inclined to sit on our hands and wait for instructions rather than tackle challenges on our own. At the same time, we are envious and ready to label achievers 'thieves' and 'cheats'.
Advantages and disadvantages of living abroad
Living abroad is something that Poles, especially the younger ones, often dream about . Is it really worth all the sacrifice? Like everything, living abroad has both its advantages and disadvantages .
The main advantage is that you can learn the language and the culture or customs of the country you live in. Moreover, you can widen your horizons by studying there and making career.
A further advantage is that you can make new foreign friends .
On the other hand, there are certain drawbacks to life abroad. First of all living there may be really expensive. Therefore not everyone can afford it. Secondly, you will certainly miss your family, your old friends, or perhaps your girlfriend or boyfriend.
In conclusion, living abroad may be very good for everyone. It can broaden ones knowledge of the world, customs and people .
How can you gain in maturity, independence and foreign language fluency? The answer is by staying in a foreign country, fitting in with the host family's lifestyle, and coping daily with a strange school, a strange town and a strange culture. The greatest ordeal for some adolescents is leaving their family environment. For some parents, it is letting their child go. The test for other youngsters is learning how to live with perfect strangers or tackling classes in a foreign language. The real challenge for these young people is assimilating a new language and culture.
Why should you try?
Yet, every year, over two thousand Polish adolescents are motivated enough to overcome these problems and head for adventure with the help of one of the twenty organizations offering long-term language trips. These trips are for young people between 15 and 18 and, in some cases, 19 years old. Free or paid accommodation is provided with a host family, depending on the organization and the country of destination. The organizations also make provisions for education in a secondary school or college with the possibility of preparing for any end-of-year examinations.
If you want to achieve fluency in another language, the immersion route is the best way to go.
But the immersion experience can be unsuccessful if not approached with a great deal of flexibility and an appreciation for how difficult it is to learn a second language and to adjust to new culture. Bilingual schools can work as a transition to an immersion experience on a variety of levels.
The vast majority of participants return literally transformed. Young people who have spent time abroad are more sure of themselves and of what they want to do with their lives. They have discovered a sense of responsibility and a respect for others and their differences. They have sharpened their curiosity and open-mindedness, They are fluent in then "adoptive" country’s language, whatever their level might have been before they left Poland. In a lot of ceases they become ten times more enthusiastic about their studies. They often keep in close contact with the voluntary family with whom they stayed. Finally, many of them follow up their initiation into the community spirit by becoming active members of the association which they traveled.
How to assess an organization’s professionalism?
The longer you stay, the more carefully you should choose the organization to which you entrust your safety. The best information is undeniably obtained by word of mouth. However, it is also important to differentiate between the organizations specialized in long-term trips and those for whom this type of trip is a secondary activity. Separate the non-profit associations from the commercial companies, whose motivations are very different. Also, find out about the internal organization of the establishment. Does it have a network of correspondents abroad? Are these correspondents voluntary? How are they recruited? Ask the same questions about the host families. Then determine how carefully the candidates are chosen: motivation interview; files describing the candidates' lifestyles, preferences and personalities as well as the type of host family they would like; a school report and letters of recommendation; a medical file; and courses taken to prepare for the departure ... and the return! As regards prices, you should obviously compare what is comparable! Most organizations publish all-inclusive prices, but it is worth checking whether the price in question includes vital insurance, education fees abroad and even the selection and preparation lees before the departure. The total price should logically cover all of the youngster's expenses, with the exception of his pocket money.
A year gained or a year wasted?
By and large, adolescents go abroad for a year after passing the exam which is checking their language level. Poland does not officially recognize the equivalence of secondary school curriculum. However, some pupils manage to negotiate this equivalence individually with their schools, for example by taking a skills test in order to enter the upper education. If in spite of all your efforts, the year spent abroad is not taken into account by the Polish system does it then constitute a ‘wasted’ year? Adults who went on trips when they were adolescents often tell that their year abroad has not only been a plus point on their CVs, but that the experience gained is of incomparable value and an asset for life.
What about the problem with the homecoming?
Living abroad isn’t for everyone. Just thinking of what you can gain should have you raring to go. The more you want to get out of your time abroad, the more focused you will be when you are away. Organizers of one year trips abroad all describe the same changes in the young expatriate’s enthusiasm and morale. The adolescent is euphoric for first three months. He becomes a ‘fighter’, raring to take on the challenge of language. Everything is new and fantastic and he is proud of how quickly he is fitting in. the turning point comes between the two terms and holidays. He starts to feel the burden of being far from his parents and friends. Daily life loses its exotic flavor and depression is just around the corner! This is why some organizations schedule a series of meetings to support the adolescents and prevent them from giving up their project prematurely. The arrival of spring sees the youngster as integral part of his new family. He understands everything and expresses himself with ease. He has made a lot of friends at school. In short, he is well-integrated and will soon no longer want to return to Poland. As the plane lands in Poland, he wonders whether his parents have changed and whether they will instantly be as close as they use to be. When the parents see their child at the airport, they hardly recognize him. He has grown up. The return is why some organizations have also put together return preparation programmes, which allow the youngsters to make the most of their experience abroad.
Being a foreign student.
First of all, when youngsters learn, they sometimes have to work. When they are late for school, the teacher will pay attention to them.
When they are late for work, the chef probably will dismiss them. Moreover, they do have to worry about money. Their parents are not doing everything for them anymore. And they have to concentrate on lessons.
They have to learn a lot because their language is not good enough. What is more, they have to be responsible.
They can of course sometimes make mistakes. School teaches youngsters many important things. They must manage in embarrassing or hopeless situations. When they are in terrible plight, they must be in full control of the situation. They learn how to keep it under control.
All in all life at school is sometimes hard to tolerate, but it is better than life in an adult world. It seems that more young people prefer school life.
WORKING ABROAD
More and more Poles are looking for seasonal employment abroad. Poles have a reputation for being conscientious, industrious, efficient and cheerful workers. The number of seasonal workers increases significantly in summer when they are employed in agriculture and catering.
The majority of Polish seasonal workers regularly go to Germany. Typical jobs include picking asparagus, strawberries, apples and tomatoes. German employers also hire skilled builders, baby-sitters, mechanics and shop-assistants. In Italy, most Poles work on the citrus-fruit plantations, while others are usually employed as cooks, waiters or industrial workers. In France, Polish people pick grapes, in Spain- strawberries, and in Sweden - bilberries.
Many employment agencies in Poland get thousands of offers from foreign companies looking for bakers, confectioners, butchers, roofers, welders, foresters and
psysiotherapists. The Norwegians are ready to take on hundreds of fishermen, sailors, shipyard workers and electricians. The Dutch seek nurses and gardeners, and the Swiss- farm-hands. Although the British are rather reluctant to employ foreigners, they do hire barmen, receptionists, chambermaids and cooks for the hotels and restaurants. The seasonal worker ‘elite’ are experts in computer science and telecommunications. Computer programmers can easily find employment in Ireland, Germany and Holland. Ireland also needs architects and construction engineers. Scandinavian countries offer job contracts to doctors, dentists and nurses.
Although the unemployment rate in Europe is high and amounts to 14 million, many countries suffer from a labour shortage in some trades. Generally, two types of employee are sought: the qualified specialist who has a good command of foreign languages or the unskilled or semi-skilled manual labourer for simple, agricultural, building and catering jobs.
The Poles and their weak points
What about the nature of the Poles, so praised by Winston Churchill during World War II? Are we still perceived as a great nation? Not necessarily. Undoubtedly, we have many character traits in our favour such as hospitality, generosity and patriotism. However, our Achilles' heel is our lack of optimism. Polish people seem to be gloomy, unenthusiastic and unfriendly. We rarely smile and have no confidence in our abilities. In the West, especially in the England, it is standard to 'keep smiling', even in times of trouble, but in Poland most people are fatalists who prefer to complain and grouch. Moreover, we are accused of being un-enterprising and lacking in initiative. We are inclined to sit on our hands and wait for instructions rather than tackle challenges on our own. At the same time, we are envious and ready to label achievers 'thieves' and 'cheats'.
Advantages and disadvantages of living abroad
Living abroad is something that Poles, especially the younger ones, often dream about . Is it really worth all the sacrifice? Like everything, living abroad has both its advantages and disadvantages .
The main advantage is that you can learn the language and the culture or customs of the country you live in. Moreover, you can widen your horizons by studying there and making career.
A further advantage is that you can make new foreign friends .
On the other hand, there are certain drawbacks to life abroad. First of all living there may be really expensive. Therefore not everyone can afford it. Secondly, you will certainly miss your family, your old friends, or perhaps your girlfriend or boyfriend.
In conclusion, living abroad may be very good for everyone. It can broaden ones knowledge of the world, customs and people .