Overseas Education

At present, many young people choose to continue their education at colleges or universities in broad such as Britain, Australia or America. And, many middle or high-income families have sent their children overseas to study. The idea of going overseas for the education is an exciting prospect for many people. But while the overseas education may offer some advantages, it is probably easy to bring some disadvantages because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a different culture. Then, what are the pros and cons of overseas education?

The main advantage of overseas education is academic ones. Overseas education offers many good foreign universities to international students. These universities often have advanced teaching facilities and other resources. In addition, teachers also have higher professional standards they fully understand the latest developments in their academic fields. For example, according to "The Times", we can get a list of global ranking reported on November 4, 2004. “OXFORD and Cambridge are among the world's top ten universities, according to a new global ranking published today. They were fifth and sixth respectively in the league table of the world's 200 best universities. Harvard, which boasts an endowment of nearly $23billion (￡12.7billion), was first in the list produced by The Times Higher Education Supplement (THES). American institutions occupied seven of the top ten places, with Oxbridge the highest-ranked outside the United States.”(Tony Halpin, 2004). Finally, thanks to the high educational quality, the qualification obtained by international students are valid usually anywhere in the world.

In addition to the important academic benefits, students also are able to improve their foreign language when they accept the overseas education. While a person can study a foreign language in his or her own country, it cannot compare with constant use of the language in academic and everyday life. It is really a good method to improve second-language skills living in the country in which it is spoken (Craufurd D. W. Goodwin and Michael Nacht, 1988, p8). Moreover, as having used the language during one’s studies, it will be easy to get a job, which need this language. For instant, on July 8, the first students in Guangzhou promotion held in China Hotel, most doctoral international student recruitment side welcomes the penchant of some doctorate shortage was invited back to school or even college tours (http://www.chinaqw.com.cn/news/2006/0712/68/36280.shtml).

Last but not least, overseas education could help students gain experience of another culture and meet many new people. According to Abroad and Beyond, we can know that, during their oversea period, the students develop and improve many interpersonal skills and become more tolerant, as well as they will become more emotionally mature as they deal with living apart from their family (Craufurd D. W. Goodwin and Michael Nacht, 1988, p8). I support these aspect can help their personal development at they turn to be more independent.

However, as a coin has two sides, overseas education has some negative effects as well.

Firstly, because of the different thinking style and lifestyle, overseas education is easy to make international students suffer the culture shock. Thus, they could have difficulties following lectures or finishing homework. Most importantly, if the young students cannot adapt the new situation, such as the different weather, different food and different habits, or they don’t want leave their parents’ protect, they may feel the homesick and lonely (Phillip K. Bock, 1970, p3), even refuse the communication with their classmates and the other people around them. To be honest, it is not a phenomenon we glad to see.

Secondly, since the students are away from the parents, some weak self-control students likely to degenerate. As Xu Xiaoping said, an overseas education advisor, the immature students' bodies, emotions and thoughts need their parents and Native culture and society to support. Once go