Academic Differences

Because the program I will be a part of is an immersion program that takes place during the summer, it will be more intensive than a regular course. Classes will meet 20 hours each week for a total of 108 hours of class time. This will be equivalent to 6 credit hours on my Maryville College transcript. For the summer, this is the minimum amount to be a full time student.

 All of the language courses focus on oral comprehension and expression as well as written comprehension and expression. It is broken down as 30 hours each for oral comprehension and oral expression, 34 hours for written comprehension, and 14 hours for written expression. This looks like it will be roughly equal to 2 course hours for each section except for written expression, which will be 1 hour. This gives a total of 7 hours, so I could wind up with either 6 or 7 total credit hours for Maryville College.

Academic Differences

The academic system at the Center for International Learning in Muscat, Oman for their summer Intensive Arabic Language program has its many similarities to MC as well as differences.  As far as workload goes, this is a very intensive program.  The particular language program I am taking is two-semester’s worth of work condensed into one month.  The classroom culture will be much different than what it is like at MC.  

You should expect to be in a very diverse climate.  In my case, I will be one out of eight Americans amongst dozens of students from 40+ countries around the world.  It is also a very relaxed setting.  It isn’t the typical American styled classroom with orderly rows of desks.  It is more like an informal conference room with a very small (4-8) sized class.  The expectation of students is very high, much like it is here at Maryville College and other rigorous American colleges.  Due to the small class size, student-faculty relationships are very close – again, much like here at MC.  This particular program also offers a language buddy.  What this means is that you will be paired up with a native college student from the university in Muscat who speaks both English and Arabic, but will only speak with you in Arabic!  It will be great practice not only to learn the language, but to learn the culture and you will get to make a new friend.

As far as credits and letter grades go, it is almost exactly the same as an American university or college.  The school is headed by an American professor, and it is organized very much like a European or American institution would be organized.  For this particular language program, there will be about 6 hours a day of Arabic, with small breaks every hour or so.  There will also be weekly quizzes and examinations.  You should expect the same thing as if you were taking two intensive classes over Jterm, or similar length of time in the summer.  Credits also transfer equally.  For example, if you take two 3-credit hour courses equaling 6 hours – they would transfer here as 6 hours.

As far as academic support goes, CIL does offer private tutoring although very rarely because it is quite expensive.  On the other hand, if a student asks, they will pair a student up with a “peer facilitator” who will engage with that student in relaxed discussion in Arabic as well as accompany them while shopping, cooking, or just exploring town.  It is a school that really cares about their students’ wellbeing, and academic progress.

Because this is a summer course, you do not need to be enrolled as a full time student.  You will have the option of taking a four week session worth 6 credit hours, a ten week program worth 10 credit hours, and a three week program worth 4 credit hours.

The Intensive Arabic Language program offered in the summer at the Center for International Learning is a very rigorous program that is very similar to the rigors of Maryville College.  It shouldn’t be that different in terms of grades and credit transfers, because it is modeled after an American, or European college.  You will be challenged, and learn a great deal while having the time of your life.

Lets take classes in Japan!!!!

The more I think about me going to Japan for a whole year the more I seem to forget that I will actually have to study for CLASS while I am there. WHAT?! It won't all be fun shopping and tourist attractions!! I guess it was only hope, that I would not have to go to class and learn :P.

I guess this is just another part of the adventure! I know some differences between the classes at MC compared to the classes at Toyo. However, I am not positive about every difference, but it is a learning experience. When I get there I will learn as I go!

Let me tell you about what I do know!!

First of all, the grading system is different! There are five different grades like we have here in the U.S. However, the grade range is different. We have a ten point system, but I'm not sure how they measure their system. The first grade is from 100- 80 and its called yuu (優), the next is from 79-70 and is called ryou (良), next is from 69-60 and is called ka (可). These three grades are passing, but there are two more with unique meanings. There is fuka (不可) which means the student tried but didn't pass and then there is houki (放棄) which means the student didn't try and the class is incomplete. As for me, I hope to see many yuus on my papers!

For the most part the Japanese classes will be similar to the ones at MC! YAY!!! One less thing to stress about, but it gets better! The Japanese classes there are more intense!! Don't want it too easy! However, the classes I will take for CREDIT (my favorite word) will mostly be done as lectures. This worries me a little, because that means that papers and exams are going to be the only grades... Oh such JOY! That sounds like soooo much FUN!

To add on, the class times are different! My language courses will meet three times a week for 90 minutes. Rockin'! On the up side my other classes don't meet as often. Some of my classes meet twice a week for 90 minutes, while others are only once a week for the same amount of time. That doesn't seem too bad! I can still go exploring when I'm not in class!

Of course, when I come back I want to make sure I am still able to graduate with my class! I was prepared to take all the courses I need in the worse case where none of them transfer. Fortunately, my adviser has confirmed that three of them are positively going to transfer!!! To top that, there is a possibility that another one will transfer as well!!

After hours of researching information on the universities in Japan, I feel that a only have a small part of the whole thing. The only way I can completely understand the differences between MC and Toyo is to experience it first hand. I'm dying to go there now, but I still have summer to wait. You know what they say, "patience is a virtue." It's so hard to be patient when I'm ready to go today! But I've waited 20 years whats a few more months going to hurt.

While studying abroad there will be a few academic differences compared to Maryville College. I am looking forward to encountering these differences because the will help me become a well rounded student. The work is different because in the States there is a lot of opinion based work such as reflections, thoughts and ideas. Compared to Czech Republic where work is more black or white. This would cater to me better because I like answers that are either right or wrong. The class work mainly depends on the professor both in Maryville College and in the Czech Republic. The test aren't worth as much points in the Czech Republic. Since I am I good test taker this difference is a bit concerning. I am curious to see how my instructor divides points up. Periodic homework exams and a final will be given. Other than that the workload is mostly the same. Attendance is mandatory in the Czech republic and class sizes are about 15. The classroom culture is more lecture based in the Czech Republic and there is a lot of respect for the professor. I do not like lecture based classes mainly because I have short attention span. I would rather have tangible notes to read and to study from also from there I can determine what is important content. One aspect that is very different is students have to stand up while the instructor walks in the allows the students to sit down. Students are expected to work hard and be on task at all times.


Credits are evaluated differently but can be translated easily. The class I am taking in Czech Republic is for 3 credit hours in the US but is just a little over 40 contact hours in Czech. My economics class will be meeting every Tuesday and Thursday at 1400-17:10 (2-5:10). Grading systems are similar to the United States but it is up to the host institution to determine how the grade is evaluated. Here3 is how the grades are translated A = 4.0 A- = 3.67 B+ = 3.33 B = 3.0B- = 2.6 C+ = 2.33C = 2.0C- = 1.67 D+ = 1.33D = 1.0 F = 0The host institution provides academic support especially since students will be studying in a different country. In the United States only 12 credits hours are required to be considered a full time student. The Czech republic it would be 60 ECTS per academic year. To put this into perspective a bachelor degree requires 240 ECTS. There are many differences between the two learning environments but most things translate easily.




http://www.studyineurope.eu/ects-system
http://www.ceastudyabroad.com/programs/czech_republic/prague/10011/partner_institution_description.html

Vocational Skills Abroad

In Prague I will be studying economics this will help me develop skills for my future job. One thing I will achieve by being in Prague is learning how to interact with others. In my opinion this is more important than studying economics. Once I am in Prague I will be surrounded by individuals whom I have never met before. Constantly being around others from an other culture will help me build vocational skills such as communication, and tolerance. I am aware at times when I try and communicate with others it will be difficult but I will have to tolerate the differences in cultures. After being in Prague for six weeks I believe I will be able to communicate with anyone from which ever walk of life. Also I will be able to conquer any task put in front of me after venturing in Europe all alone. For my future career I will need to obtain very good people skills. Being good around people will not only help me in my career but in life all together.


Studying economics in Prague will be a good vocational experience itself. Learning in a different culture will teach me to adapt to what ever environment I am in. I would have liked to signed up for an internship in Prague but I would like to build some more knowledge on my field before then. One thing I hope to achieve abroad is doing volunteer work of some sort. By volunteering I will further my interaction with people from different walks of life. Overall I would like to return from Europe with a brand new outlook on life. Improving my social skills and becoming more tolerate of people from different cultures. In the world of business it is very important to get along with others and I will learn how to do this studying abroad this summer.

AAU vs. MC

Academic Differences

• workload: greater than MC. It takes seven class hours to achieve one ECT credit, or half of a US credit
• classroom culture: small classrooms, usually less than thirty
• flow of the semester: Sept. 1st - Dec. 15th: Fall Term, Jan. 5th - Jan. 23rd: Winter Term, Feb. 6th - May 25th Spring Term
• expectations of students: very similar to MC (go to classes, complete work, etc.) but they are also expected to find their own housing.
• faculty/student relationships: low faculty to student ratio

Credits

• credits classes are normally worth:  6 ECTS
• how credits are valued there: by ECTS credit
• how many hours a week we meet per class: Six hours a week
• how credits transfer: For every 6 credits I take at AAU, I earn 3 US credit hours, so in total I will be doing 12 ECTS credit hours for 6 US credit hours

Grades

• letter grade equivalency: Directly quoted from their site: Overall academic progress is expressed by the student’s Grade Point Average (GPA), using a standard US 4-point scale, in which the highest possible passing grade is an A and the lowest possible passing grade is a D. These grades carry the following weights: A = 4.0; B = 3.0; C = 2.0; D = 1.0; F (fail) = 0. The GPA is calculated as the numerical average of all grades received, weighted by the credit value of individual classes. The highest possible GPA is thus 4.0. Straight-B students receive a GPA of 3.0 and straight-C students, 2.0.

Support

• support services: Their student service center provides support services
• academic resources: found in the student service center
• tutoring available: yes, at the Academic Tutoring Center

Full-Time Status

• credits needed to be full-time at MC: 6 credit hours for the summer semester (minimum)
• credits needed to be full-time at AAU: 12 credit hours for the summer semester (minimum)

The Difference Between Here & There

Because Sweden is very much a Westernised country, like the United States, their workloads and general idea of academics are very similar. Of course, there are a number of differences as well.

Academic Differences
An academic year lasts a bit longer in Sweden than in the United States and, in Sweden, students take one class at a time; they are called periods and each period lasts about four weeks, and students take anywhere from four to six classes per semester. But aside from that, things are very similar. Students in both countries are typically given the same workload and the same things are expected of them in a classroom environment.

Credits
The credit system – ECTS – used in Sweden can be daunting and confusing if it’s your first time using it and you are used to the American credit system. However, once you’ve had to work with it a bit, it becomes a bit easier to understand. Classes in Sweden are offered by 7.5, 15, or 30 credits, but that doesn’t mean you’re taking 30 credit hours per semester! 7.5 ECTS credits is roughly 4 American credit hours, though they sometimes transfer as 3 credit hours. 30 ECTS credits is considered full time, which is roughly 15 credits here. With that being said, 12 hours, which is considered full time here, would not be considered full time in Sweden. I was unable to find information about how often classes met, but I assume it would be on a nearly every day basis because the way the classes are set up remind me of the way we have our J-Term classes arranged.

Grades
The grading system is quite simple. VG & G are both passing grades, but VG is a higher grade, and U is failing.

Academic Support
I’m not sure if this is the same for all of Sweden, but at my university, Södertörn, there is a lot of academic support available to those who need it. The school’s library offers many services to students who need tutoring in classes or want someone to read over the papers they write. The way their academic support is set up reminds me of the support system we have at Maryville.

Overall, there are some differences in how Södertörn and Maryville are ran, but that is to be expected even if I were to transfer to another school within the United States. None of these differences are so incredibly different that I will be unable to comprehend what is going on and how I'm doing in my classes. I am feeling very confident about them, actually. It sounds like a lot of work, and they ensure us it will be, but I am ready for the challenge!

 

What am I doing?

About six months ago, I was sitting in Kirsten's office explaining to her that I have no idea what I want to do with my life after I graduate. I am pleased to announce that absolutely nothing has changed.

Okay, maybe (hopefully), I've made a bit of progress. It depends on the day, but I'm currently down to three career choices. The first is teaching English abroad, and I got a bit of experience teaching English when I helped out with the ESL program at my high school. It was extremely challenging but equally rewarding, and having the opportunity to teach it abroad would intensify both of those feelings. (Plus my friend is currently teaching English in Russia, and his adventures sound like so much fun...). Another is becoming a travel agent because it would allow me to continue travelling, which is something I love, while also sharing my love of travel with other people and helping them find a perfect vacation or adventure spot. Finally, I think I would like to work with students that are studying abroad or in the process of doing so because it would expose me to many different cultures, which would help me gain international perspective and would also help me create a love of travel in students wanting to study abroad (maybe one day I can steal Kirsten's job..? [doubtful]).

The classes I'm requesting to take at Södertörn are a mix of ones required for my major, international studies, and focused on tourism and one focused on learning the English language and how to apply it in a classroom setting (because why not?). I'm hoping that by taking this variety of classes, I'll be pointed in a more specific direction for my career. Additionally, I plan on asking my advisor in Sweden if she knows of any opportunities for me to volunteer to help teach children English in the area or where I could look to find these kinds of opportunities.

Overall, I think that this year abroad will help me decide what I truly love, and when I decide what I truly love, I'll be able to decide what I want to do for the rest of my life.

Planning Ahead

Someday I will have to leave school and join the workforce. This is unfortunate but inevitable. Hopefully I will be excited about my job when the time comes. One of the things that would make me most excited to work is the possibility of travel.

While traveling for work is not the same as going on vacation or studying abroad, it still seems exciting. I very much love the idea of travel but currently have little experience with it. Learning how to be on my own in a new place is a little bit daunting but will hopefully become second nature eventually. This is not something that happens to me often now. I do not really know how airports work and have never been on a train or subway. Figuring out how to get around will be essential, especially when trying to get to meetings and finding hotels. I will have to learn quickly or face the consequences.

I also believe that becoming bilingual will help land me a job I want. The way the world works now, it is almost becoming a necessity. I will work extremely hard in order to achieve this by talking to as many French people as possible. It will be tough at first, but it will pay off in the long run. It would be very easy to learn just enough French to get by in my classes, but that is not good enough for me. I will be able to speak French fluently and beautifully by the time I return home. This will allow me to speak to people from French speaking nations if my future job presents the opportunity.

Culture Shock and Homesickness

Based on past experience, I know that I will most likely experience some homesickness, and definitely some culture shock (and frustration).  Whenever I get stressed here at home, I take a minute to slow down and take inventory of what it is I need to do to get out of being stressed.  Usually, this ends up with me making a checklist of things to do, and I check them off – it usually works.

This can translate to my time abroad, in that I can make a list of things to do to keep me occupied – like a bucket list we discussed in class previously.  I love adventure and don’t necessarily like being tied to an itinerary.  By making a bucket list of things to check off, I will keep my mind and body busy and happy which means a less chance for stress and thinking about home. I think this will help with culture shock as well whenever it stresses me out or makes me frustrated.

However, I know there is no escaping homesickness as I experience whatever degree of culture shock that will hit me.  I have only experienced minor homesickness as a kid going to camp, etc., but I haven’t experienced it while at college so this will probably be a bit difficult to deal with.  This is where my friend Skype will come into handy.  My girlfriend studied abroad in Australia last semester, and we used Skype very often to stay in touch.  It really helped me, but it helped her out a lot as she was able to keep in touch with friends and family whenever she got homesick.  So I know this tactic will help me out just as much as it helped her out.

Vocational goals beginning in Oman

My interests are very wide, so it is often times difficult for me to focus on one thing in particular that I really want to do in the future.  However, I do know that whatever it is I do vocationally, it will involve travel, working in adverse conditions, and working with another culture and language.  My summer abroad learning Arabic in Oman will greatly contribute to these future vocational goals.

One specific interest of mine is to work in helping refugees and other displaced people in the Middle East from its variety of countries.  I know that the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) is one of the leading groups that are involved in this type of work and are an organization I have interest in.  They have many refugee camps in the Middle East that I can work, or volunteer with.

Studying Arabic at the Center for International Learning in Muscat, Oman will definitely aide in my future vocational goal of working with the UNHCR for myriad reasons.  Firstly I will have gained knowledge in Arabic which is widely spoken throughout the Middle East.  I will also have had experience living in adverse conditions being that Muscat in May-June oftentimes reaches 120 degrees, and is humid.  I also will have lived in a culture that is vastly different from the one I am used to, as well as one that may be similar to some of the refugees I will possibly work with.

I will be in Oman for a relatively short amount of time to be able to do anything major that will contribute to my future goals.  In any case, there are still things that I can consciously do that will help.  Besides soaking in as much of the language, geography, and culture that I can, I plan to seek out some volunteer work that I can do on the weekends (if there is sufficient time!) that involve locals.