Degree Name

MA in International Education

First Advisor

Linda Gobbo

Abstract

This Capstone paper explores the logic that short-term study abroad at the secondary level has a positive impact on participant’s tertiary educational decisions. It investigates the opinions of past participants from four different Vermont based secondary study abroad experiences between the years 2005 and 2009. Through the use of an internet survey participants were questioned about the impact of their short-term study abroad experience on the decisions they made regarding their choice of tertiary institution, major, tertiary study abroad experience, extracurricular and service activities, language study, and acquirement of skills, knowledge, tools and global outlook.

Survey results of these participants confirm that an international experience at the secondary level will positively influence decisions made at the tertiary level. Evidence from the eighteen participants showed that the international experience will have impact on avenues explored within possible fields of study. Survey participants also confirmed that international experience begets international experience as a large majority have or plan to study abroad again at the tertiary level. The data further indicates that participants believe the international experience provided them with intercultural skills, knowledge and awareness that was applied to tertiary decisions. With knowledge of these outcomes, this study hopes to provide evidence for further research into pre-tertiary international education.

Disciplines

Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | International and Comparative Education

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