Tips for an authentic experience in the five most popular study abroad destinations for American students. By Josh Irons

Like many college students considering the life-changing study abroad experience, you probably already have a dream destination in mind.  In fact, recent intelligence from StudyAbroad.com, suggests that your desired country of study is likely Spain, England, France, Italy or Australia, with American students participating in programs in these five countries accounting for nearly half of overall study abroad participation.

T H E  B I G  F I V E :

Top study abroad American students destinations* participating in annually**

 Spain 24,005

 England 32,705

 France 17,233

 Italy 27,831

 Australia 10,747

*StudyAbroad.com website searches from January through August 2009.   **Open Doors 2008, Top Destinations of U.S. Study Abroad Students, 2006/07

With the high degree of interest in and participation from American students in study abroad programs in these coveted destinations, the question on the minds of many prospective students and their parents becomes: Surrounded by so many American students studying abroad, can I really have an authentic international experience? The answer, of course, is yes – so long as certain aspects of the study abroad experience receive extra consideration in the planning stages.  Particularly, attention to the level of student diversity, the housing options available therein and the availability of culturally authentic activities can propel a study abroad experience from a glorified international Spring Break with friends from home to a highly authentic and personally enriching global experience.

Program diversity

Some study abroad programs are comprised of mostly American students in an international setting, while others strive to create a healthy balance of American students, students from other countries abroad and students from the host country to create a genuinely diverse educational environment.  To achieve a truly authentic study abroad experience, students should avoid programs that merely transplant the American college experience into another country with exclusively American students and the curricula of U.S. institutions. Instead, look for programs in these popular countries that allow students to meet and learn alongside those from the host country and other countries around the world, and that offer courses unique and specific to the region.  Additionally, some programs are taught in the native language of the host country while others are taught solely in English. For students seeking to cultivate increased proficiency in a foreign language through as part of the cultural immersion process, prospective students should ensure that their program of choice uses the foreign language in the classroom and offers ample opportunities for students to interact with native speakers.

Housing options

Traditionally, most study abroad programs had a singular housing option: the home stay. In this scenario, students would live with a host family in order to familiarize themselves with the familial customs of the destination and utilize their language skills regularly with native speakers.  While this housing arrangement is still quite popular in collectivist destinations such as Asia, Africa and South America, the more common housing option in the Big 5 study abroad destinations is the dormitory system.  Students are assigned flats – or apartments – close to the program campus, where students can expect to live with flatmates – or roommates – for the duration of their stay in the program destination. The dormitory housing arrangement can offer students an opportunity to live alongside peers from the host country as well as those from different cultures and offers more independence than living with a host family. While home stays can generally be arranged by program personnel upon request, students electing to live in a flat should request non-American flatmates to forge relationships with international students and cultivate a more authentic global experience.

Research culturally authentic experiences

Prior to the commencement of a study abroad program, prospective students should familiarize themselves with the unique cultural events and landmarks in their chosen Big 5 destination city. These may include festivals, holidays, must-see museums or even great places for authentic host country cuisine.  While the Internet offers a plethora of information resources regarding the activities available to international students in the most popular destinations, returning students can also serve as an extremely valuable resource for prospective students seeking culturally authentic experiences. Students that have completed programs in Big 5 countries can provide an 'on the ground' perspective that helps students avoid the tourist clutter and navigate the heavy U.S. student presence to achieve a highly authentic international experience.

These considerations are simple yet can have a profound impact on the authenticity and value of a student's study abroad experience.  While the Big 5 destinations attract a high volume of American students and are considered quite touristy, these respective locales offer a rich cultural history and offer the potential for tremendous global insight and education.  

Josh Irons is product operations manager of StudyAbroad.com, the Internet's leading resource for study abroad and intensive language programs searchable by subject and destination