Thursday, October 4,1990
Students relate study abroad experiences
by Christie Luden
The Colleuian
Most students have traveled at
some point in their lives, but few
have been given the opportunity
to actually attend college in a
foreign country. Many students
may find this prospect unsettling
despite the fact that it would be
an experience that would help
them out in the future.
Angela Carone, a 7th semester
Political Science major is one of
the few students who overcame
these doubts and fears. She spent
the spring of this year studying
in Athens, Greece with the
Education Abroad program
through Penn State.
She attended classes with
other students involved in the
program. They concentrated on
history and classical studies of
Greece and Turkey.
Carone is very enthusiastic
about the program and Greece.
She said she "experienced
something new and exciting
everyday".
Carone said the country is
much less competitive than the
United States and is slower-paced;
there isn't any pressure and
everyone is extremely hospitable.
She added that "the islands of
Greece are the most beautiful,
incredible scenery you could
imagine".
The Greeks do speak English,
but Carone said the students were
put into Greek language classes
as soon as they arrived. They
lcamed"just [enough] to get by".
Because their classes woe not
integrated into the Greek system,
Carone said there were not many
differences between classes over
there and classes at Behrend.
There was a lot of on-site
instruction, however, where they
actually got to see what was
being taught to them and the
Greek teachers were very good.
Students must meet several requirements
before entering study abroad program
by Christie Luden
The Collegian
Education Abroad is a
growing program at Behrend
that offers enterprising
students the chance to
expand their horizons and
experiences which will later
be beneficial in any
occupation.
"Going abroad enables
you to appreciate
differences, adapt to them,
and apply them to your
work," said Mari Trenkle,
coordinator of Academic
Affairs who organizes the
programs.
Any student in the Penn
State system has the
opportunity to choose from
the many different locations
and types of programs
available.
She recommends the program
to everyone who can take
advantage of it and feels students
should take the opportunity to
travel while in school since it is
difficult to take time off in the
working work!.
Brian Creager, a 7th semester
Electrical Engineering major also
participated in the Education
Abroad program. He spent the
full 1989-90 school year in
Leeds, England.
Given the opportunity to
experience different aspects of the
English culture, Creager expressed
the same sentiments Carone did;
commenting that England is more
Ah/mu
C/ 0 I*/ n i~ h € f-e
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9
at 8:00 P.M.
REED LECTURE HALL
The Collegian
The interest in studying
abroad has grown
tremendously. Although
there is only one student,
Anna Mastrog, in Italy this
semester, there are nine more
leaving in the spring.
Penn State has also joined
a cooperative center which
has added many more
programs to the choices
already available. If for some
reason, students cannot find
a country and curriculum that
suit their needs here, they
have the opportunity to
explore the programs of
other American universities.
The qualifications
required are somewhat
simple. Students need a
minimum GPA of 2.5 and
must be in good standing
with the university. An
advisor or faculty
relaxed than the United States.
Creager liked the fact that most
of the classes met only once a
week which gave him more free
time and an opportunity to relax.
However, Creager felt that the
year long classes woe one setback
in the English educational system.
They run from September to June
and the only grade in the class is a
cumulative final.
Creager also found that
"teachers weren't too willing to
help you outside of class. I haven't
seen that at Behiend yet.”
His classes included
engineering, chemistry,
philosophy, and computer science.
recommendation must
accompany the application,
along with an essay, giving
your reasons for wanting to
participate in the program
and how it fits in with your
major and career goals.
Application deadlines are
November 1 for the fall and
full year programs, and
March 1 for the spring term.
A few summer options are
also available. Students must
be aware of these deadlines
and apply far enough in
advance in case prerequisites
are required. Since certain
programs are difficult to get
into and more structured in
course work, students are
permitted to apply for more
than one.
For more information,
students can contact Trenkle
at 898-6160.
Unlike Carone, Creager's classes
were integrated in with English
students while in Leeds.
He said that his engineering
classes were "more theoretically
based then Behrend, but lacked
applications". He also commented
that Penn State has better
computers, but attributed this to
the lack of money the universities
have to spend. Students do not
pay tuition so the funding isn't
there to buy equipment
Two of the students who are
leaving this spring are also going
to England. Michelle McLaughlin,
a sth semester English major and
Debbie McDougall, 3rd semester
NEW YORK TIMES
Subscription Savings
Still Available
Only 25 cents
per issue!
Stop at the
Behrend Bookstore
by Friday, Oct. sth
To place your order
Page
undeclared will both be traveling
to Exeter, England to take part in
a social sciences curriculum.
While McLaughlin cannot use
the classes to fulfill degree
requirements, she plans to use
them as electives.
McLaughlin is looking forward
to seeing plays and finding
information for her senior project
on Shakespeare. She is also
hoping to sit in on a court trial
since her career goal is to become
a lawyer.
"I've heard so much about it
(England). I want to see what I've
read about." Although the
anticipation is very exciting,
McLaughlin admits to having a
few jitters. She's nervous about
how she will be treated and finding
her way around.
McDougall is also looking
forward to her trip. While she is
undecided on her major she does
plan to go into some field of
humanities and feels the social
science classes will fit into any
major.
She said "I am looking forward
to being able to see what it will
be like to learn outside of the
United States..." Since the country
is so much older than the United
States, she likes the historic
aspect of the trip. Like
McLaughlin, she also wants to see
and experience what she's read
about in text books.
Although Mari Trenkle,
coordinator of academic affairs and
organizer of the Education Abroad
program feels interest in the
program is growing; McDougall
is "surprised that more people
don't take advantage of it”.
The six other students going
abroad this spring will be Evans
Joseph and David Conti to
Manchester, England; Pheobe
Bonfardine and Victoria Freund to
Cologne, Germany; Willis Ke to
Melbourne, Australia; and Pascale
Lakkis to Cairo, Egypt