See the World

"See the World" is a presentation run by the Study Abroad office that provides University 101 students the opportunity to learn more about study abroad. Specifically, this presentation is designed to give students the tools to begin planning their own study abroad experiences.  The majority of presentations are moderated by peer advisors or graduate assistants, though staff may moderate or assist in presentations as needed.  Our peers and graduate students highlight their own experiences abroad as well as facilitating a discussion about study abroad opportunities in general.  The presentation covers the various study abroad destinations available and what courses students can take overseas.  Presenters will discuss the benefits of international education, as well as addressing student concerns and dispelling study abroad myths.  Each presentation will be followed by adequate time for question and answer sessions.

Learning Outcomes

The See the World presentation supports University 101 learning outcomes:

II. Help Students Discover and Connect With the University of South Carolina
a. Identify appropriate campus resources and opportunities that contribute to their educational experience, goals, and campus engagement.
Students will learn about the services offered by Study Abroad Office.  The presentation gives them an overview of how to get started in studying abroad and the types of opportunities available.  Through a presentation about their own experience, the presenter demonstrates to students how they (a peer) connected an education abroad experience to their own larger educational experience at USC.  Through discussion and reflection, the moderator will help students understand how international education connects to their own personal, professional, and academic goals.

III. Prepare Students for Responsible Lives in a Diverse, Interconnected, and Changing World
a. Examine how their background and experiences impact their values and assumptions and explain the influence these have on their relationships with others.
One of the most important topics we address in the See the World presentation is a discussion of misconceptions and assumptions about education abroad.  Examples include "I couldn't possibly afford it" and "It's not for students in my major".  We work to eliminate barriers by demonstrating how students can make it work for them.  This affects students' relationships with others, because there is a perception that this global communication and relationship-building opportunity may be closed to some students, or that they may be somehow excluded from the study abroad community. In addition, because one of the major learning outcomes of study abroad has to do with cross-cultural communication and understanding one's own values and assumptions as they relate to others in a cross-cultural context, the returnee student who facilitates the presentation will be a model of this learning outcome at work.

As a result of attending this presentation students will:

• Have the chance to interact with study abroad returnees and learn from them what the study abroad experience is like
• Become familiar with the Study Abroad Office as a campus resource for international study
• Understand the importance of study abroad to personal, academic, and professional development.
• Understand the basics of how the study abroad process works, including the types of programs available, the applicability of scholarships and financial aid, and the credit approval process
• Dispel myths about study abroad such as "it's not affordable" or "I can't go abroad with my major"
• Learn reasons to get excited about studying abroad

Presentation Outline

• Introductions and icebreaker
• Highlight of presenters own study abroad experience
• Student reflection focusing on study abroad goals
  • "Scattergories Abroad"
    
  • Three topics covered include “where”, “why”, and “why not”
    
  • The moderator discusses and debriefs each category (WHERE/WHY/WHY NOT).  This is an opportunity for the peer leader to tell students about key things such as:
    • Different types of study abroad programs available
      
    • Personal academic, and career advantages to study abroad
      
    • Available scholarships and how to start planning
• How to get involved with the office
• Additional questions

Presentation Length
50 minutes or 75 minutes