Hi guys!! I’ve just seen a lot of varying posts on this, so I wanted more opinions! What’s the best amount of time to study abroad? A summer, semester, year, etc!
For full immersion, specifically as a high school student: one year. Hands down.
For college, at least one semester, which is standard. College is a whole different ballgame than high school; you’re there to study, not to do full immersion usually, so a semester is fine. Generally a semester is all you can do while keeping on track to graduate in four years (especially if you have a major with a lot of requirements), unless you do some smart planning ahead. If you can, do a year; a year is always best for language acquisition especially.
Summer programs are fine, but IMO less substantive. For high school, they’re basically extended vacations for privileged teens; fun if you can do it, but otherwise not life changing. In college, it’s a fun way to spend your summer while earning some credits (usually two courses or similar). Summer programs are usually about two months, three if you’re lucky. Summer programs give you a taste of the country, but not a true, deep sense of the culture (let alone language).
Basically, the reason a year is optimal is because of the life cycle of culture shock + language fluency (at least conversational fluency), you need the time. Most people hit a baseline of cultural comfort/language fluency after about 5, 6 months. If you’re only doing a semester program, you leave right when things get good. (and with shorter stays, people tend not to do the full culture shock/adjustment cycle because it’s basically like a long vacation–you’re not staying, so you never have to adjust. It’s not as deep a cultural experience).
Context: I did a year in high school, a semester in college, and then I worked for my university long enough to witness both a semester group and a summer group. The depth of experience was markedly different between semester and summer (noting that in this case it was an English speaking country).
I second the answer of “one year” if you want to really gain linguistic and cultural fluency. The college students I knew who did one semester definitely benefited from it compared to students who only went over the summer, but they all expressed regrets about leaving right when they knew what they were doing, were actually enjoying themselves and being part of the culture, rather than being constantly working at it and realizing they fell a bit short.
In high school, a full year in immersion is the gold standard.
In college, a semester is a basic necessity if you’re in international business and/or foreign language, although a year is better.
What is it that you want to get out of your study abroad program?
If it’s a fun vacation - go for the summer
If it’s an extended fun vacation - go for a semester
If it’s to learn a language, truly experience another culture, get to know locals (not other Americans!) and even make some friendships with non-Americans or expats – go for a year.
You won’t regret it. I’ve known so many students studying abroad who feel they only began to feel “at home” when it’s time to leave at the end of the semester. They experienced all the hard moments – culture shock, inability to understand locals, getting to know the place/food – and leave before the really great ones: feeling a part of the community, feeling really good about your language skills, making real friendships and having traveled a bit.
It’s likely you will never again have the opportunity to live in another country for a whole year. Take advantage while you can.