International Studies & Programs

Program met academic and professional goals

It allowed me to meet some of my academic and professional goals with one of those goals to be a well-rounded educator.

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Published: Thursday, 12 Dec 2019 Author: Lauren Yezbick

I am currently a senior studying elementary education with a minor in TESOL. I attended the LCTE study abroad Group of students holding Spartan flag in Belgiumprogram this summer and I had the incredible opportunity to travel to the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France. 

My study abroad program was a phenomenal experience and it was one that I will never forget. Studying abroad helped me grow and develop not only as a person, but as a future educator. It allowed me to meet some of my academic and professional goals with one of those goals to be a well-rounded educator. I accomplished this abroad by visiting so many different types of schools such as international schools and seeing the different school systems across the four countries. All of the school visits opened my eyes to different learning environments, learning styles, and different groups of students. Some of the students we worked with were learning English as a second language which allowed me to experience that type of learning environment first-hand because I have not been able to work in a classroom like that yet in Michigan. 

My experience abroad really affected me on a personal level as well. I learned a lot about myself as an individual and I learned so much about the world from my travels and from my peers that I was luckily enough to study with. The first thing that I learned is that keeping an open-mind is essential because it allows you to Group of students in Amsterdam in the Netheralndslearn and understand what others are thinking and feeling. During my time abroad, I made sure to remember to keep an open-mind and I found because of that I enjoyed my experience so much more. I did things such as trying new foods, different experiences, and making friends with other college students abroad. 

Another thing that I noticed and learned on a more personal level was that I had so much time abroad to grow and develop and I feel that I grew more in those three weeks than I have over the last year in a way I wasn't expecting to. I think that pushing myself to go outside of my comfort zone and traveling with a group of people I did not really know was so beneficial for me as an individual and I am so grateful for all that I got to experience and learn.

Name: Lauren Yezbick
Status: Senior
Major: Elementary Education
Hometown: Rochester Hills, Michigan
Program: Learning, Technology and Culture in Europe