ISP Events

While best practice in the field of education abroad has long held that comprehensive pre-departure preparation is one of the trademarks of study abroad programming excellence, structured post-program reflection as a crucial component of successful learning abroad is a more recent development. Student motivations for a learning abroad experience vary widely. They can benefit from programming which helps them connect the dots of their learning experiences with real life skills. Employers and graduate programs value learning abroad experiences when students can articulate the benefits derived from them. Beginning with an overview of the connections between the before, during, and after components of study abroad, this session then introduces models for (1) pre-departure orientation sessions designed to optimize student learning and development abroad by providing frameworks for engagement on site; and (2) post-program reflection that can assist students in connecting their international and on-campus learning and development. Participants will learn about MSU’s "Packing For and Unpacking Your Study Abroad Experience" workshops and receive tools for how to help students connect skills gained on study abroad to their academic, personal, and professional development.

Participants will receive a copy of Maximizing Study Abroad: A Students’ Guide to Strategies for Language and Culture Learning and Use (Paige et al. 2002).