According to the International Baccalaureate, international education involves teaching students to be active and engaged in an interconnected world. Students are provided with a global perspective through different views of a topic or learning experience. There are numerous benefits of international schools. From a diverse community of equals to a highly favorable international alumni network. These advantages put international schooling way above public or private schools in your local area – even if these schools offer excellent education. This article will explore some of these benefits.
A Diverse Community
With international schooling, there is a unique opportunity to study in an environment with students from all over the world. Students can learn about different cultural backgrounds, viewpoints, different languages, diverse problem-solving means, different customs, and traditions from their peers across the world. This, in turn, enriches their social, emotional, and academic development.
International schools build strong and beautiful communities by celebrating the uniqueness of each student. Such schools will place great emphasis on the self-awareness of each student and ensure different backgrounds and views are celebrated in the classroom.
This kind of learning environment promotes bonds that allow for great creativity and efficient problem,-solving skills. It’s not just the students who benefit from this vast diversity. Families of these students get to form international connections as well. Before a parent can decide whether to put their child in an international school, they will have to connect with other parents in those countries.
There is a wealth of experience that can be shared this way and bring different cultures together. Learning about other cultures can improve different worldviews and promote cohesion in society.
Students can experience different styles of education
Many international schools have basic curricula that are understood around the world. However, each country often has its education system. For those who seek international education, this presents a bit of a challenge, especially when you are pursuing higher education abroad. But that is just so you can get out of your comfort zone. You can adapt to a new environment with support from the learning institution.
This experience will not just help to shift your mentality; it will also help you adapt well to the workplace (in the future). You will have the confidence to take on new challenges and adapt to different styles of working with others.
But different styles of education present challenges, let’s be honest. Students who travel to English-speaking countries from non-native English speakers may struggle with English assignments. This is especially tough when these students have to write essays in English. What can they possibly do when English is not their first language?
Well, there are several ways that the institution can help these students to be more comfortable with the new language. Also, some students can contact superior essay writers from online services. These services are useful in providing guidance to students who may be stuck with essays or homework they cannot understand in the new language.
It’s a chance to master a language
Before you can join a university or college in another country, you have to at least try and learn the native language of that country. This isn’t always easy to do for many students. However, there can be no better chance to master a language than going to the place where that language is frequently used. This is an opportunity to be fluent in reading and writing the language.
You can hone your skills in the language in the classroom as well as through interaction with other students. If the school admits students from many other countries, this could be a chance to learn even more languages by interacting with other students. You can also study other languages if the school offers bilingual programs or other varieties of languages in its curriculum. This is not just an opportunity to learn and be fluent in more than one language; it could also prepare you for further studies of another language.
That’s not all; learning different languages and becoming fluent in them prepare you for the future. You can work in different countries and easily fit in any culture. Your knowledge and fluency in a language will give you an edge when applying for an international job.
It’s a chance to explore other cultures and perspectives
There’s never a better chance to expand your worldview and develop cross-cultural awareness than studying abroad. International schools can boost a student’s international-mindedness when they learn about different cultures and other views. Because you interact and share views with teachers and students from different backgrounds and upbringings, you can begin to value others’ stories.
This will help you develop a holistic approach to life both at school and later on when you are working. Greater change in the world isn’t brought about by those with dogmatic views. Rather it’s brought by those who understand and appreciate the diversity of cultures and perspectives across different countries. This brings about compassion, open-mindedness, and a way to become a responsible global citizen.
You can begin, in a healthy way, to question your personal beliefs and the influence they have had on your upbringing. This is an important aspect if you hope to create and maintain bonds with other students from a different culture. When you understand what others believe and how that shapes their world, and by comparing it to your own beliefs and upbringing, you can learn to value what others bring to the table of diversity.
This will improve your problem-solving and communication skills. There is also a good chance for long-term benefits, including self-confidence, self-awareness, and an incredible ability to adapt to different environments and perspectives.
It’s a good opportunity to discover the world
Traveling and discovering the world isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. International schooling offers a unique and rare opportunity to travel and experience the world. You get a chance to engage with schools in other countries and meet people from different parts of the globe. But how does that happen when you are only studying in one part of the world? Well, it happens in different ways – perhaps depending on the kind of international school you choose.
Most international schools have academic travel programs as part of their curriculum. This often involves traveling to neighboring countries (as well as others a distance away) to experience what those countries have their cultures. Also, many international schools are connected to and engage with other schools around the globe. This offers students a chance to interact and interlink with other communities.
These schools will also organize events that celebrate different customs. They will also often have cuisines, holidays, and many other events to bring you as closer to other cultures as possible. This exposure can help shape your view of the world and offer the thrill of being to places you have always wanted to visit.
It’s a chance to impress future employers
For some employers, an international degree has a bit more weight than a local degree. This is because these employers are searching for employees with transferable learning skills and the ability to collaborate efficiently. Many employers often can’t wait to hire students with international knowledge.
A study conducted by the Institute of International Education (IIE-Abroad Survey) and the University of California concluded that 90-95% of students with an international education were employed in their respective fields within six months following their graduation. According to those who have argued the point of employing students with an international education over those with local degrees, these students have an open mind, can easily adapt to different working environments, are resourceful, and have the drive to make it in an ever-changing working environment.
That’s not all; companies that need to scale up to have a workforce that is versatile and willing to embrace different cultures and groups. Students who have already had exposure to different cultures can create this kind of workforce.
International education helps develop a global network of friends and connections
Think of all the friends you have made at home and how powerful those have been in shaping your experiences and your views in life. International education enhances this and enables students to build lasting relationships with both the school community and even beyond. These friendships can lead to a life of happiness and fulfillment. It’s easy to have a friend from your own country. However, it’s a different thing altogether to have someone you can trust from a different country.
This is not just about pen pal letters and social media friendships with people you have never met; this is a real close friend. The wider the network, the greater the chance of finding an exciting career and other social opportunities.
International friendships can connect you to international jobs, give you crucial information about the dealings of your country and your friend’s country, and improve your knowledge of a different culture you have always been interested in. For example, having a Spanish friend can help improve your fluency in speaking Spanish. You can talk about different dialects with your friend and help enrich your knowledge of Spanish.
You get to interact with faculty and staff with a global view
It’s often unlikely that you will ever meet a teacher from a different country at your local school. It’s a different thing for international schools. These schools are choke-full of teachers and administrative staff from different parts of the globe. This has advantages both for students and families of students who study abroad. Because many of the staff and teachers are also from different places, they share the same experiences.
These teachers and staff often help these families with the ups and downs of moving to a new country. They are the go-to people if you want to adjust to life in a new community quickly.
But how can you meet these people if you have never known them? Well, most international learning institutions have strong Parent-faculty Associations and Advancement Departments that will help introduce families to the local and student communities. There are also events and workshops throughout the year that are focused on building skills that help families enjoy their time abroad.
Because teachers and faculty help shape the life of a student, it’s even better when these people are from different cultures. Students can develop a global perspective that can expand their dreams.
It can help identify leadership and community service
International schools allow students to engage in co-curricular activities, academic travel programs, and community service initiatives. These activities can act as means to identify and nurture leadership skills. These skills can later help these students to contribute positively to society both locally and globally. In these schools, students are encouraged to use their talents to impact the world and lead change.
In a world that is changing by the day, cross-cultural leadership skills can help shape the future. Students with great leadership skills have an edge in the job market as well. International organizations such as the United Nations (UN) can employ such students who may impact change in the world.
It can help to improve international relations
It’s amazing how many conflicts around the world have come as a result of misunderstandings among cultures. International education can be the bridge that connects nations and helps to eradicate hostilities that stem from intolerance among different cultures across the world. International education can help foster understanding and respect for backgrounds, faiths, ideas, and worldviews.
When different cultures meet to discuss solutions that affect our world, such as poverty, a common ground is an education. Also, students who return from studying abroad can act as goodwill ambassadors and shape the opinion of the public. They are sort of informal diplomats that the world doesn’t realize it needs.
Conclusion
There is a growing global trend for international education. There are thousands of international schools, millions of students, and hundreds of thousands of staff members in the world today. This has overwhelmingly shaped the education landscape globally. Many families are embracing international education to enrich their children’s lives by giving them a multicultural learning environment. This has helped to promote and appreciate different cultures and perspectives. All this leads to positive change in the world.