KRWG News: Study Abroad Prepares Students for Future

KRWG News

Uploaded by KRWGnews on Feb 2, 2012. 02.02.12 (LAS CRUCES) — There’s a college program helping students become global citizens as they prepare to enter an already competitive workforce.

Claire Koleske is already preparing for next semester, even though a new one just started.

“I’m a double major in English and Theatre and Shakespeare is really what I’m focusing on and so I really want to take the experience of being in London and going to the Globe Theatre and going to these historic sights and just taking it all in,” she said.

This will be Koleske’s second trip. Last time she went to Italy and discovered there’s a lot of planning that goes into every destination.

“I got my passport about eight months before and then I read a couple of Italian books and then I listened to some readings in the car,” she said.

As part of the study abroad program at New Mexico State University, students travels while earning college credit.

“There’s a very small percentage of students who go abroad and given the benefits and given the ease through which they can study abroad we believe more students should be taking advantage of this opportunity,” said Jessica Lujan, advisor.

There are 115 students currently studying abroad, which is a 66 percent increase from last year.

“It’s a very inexpensive way to be able to travel to a foreign country, experience what’s like to be a student elsewhere and then also you know enhance their language skills in a different language — just over all become a global citizen,” she said.

Reported by Carlos Correa