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Diego Martinez

Florida International University

10/21/18

How Older Relatives Encourage to Study Abroad

Introduction

The idea to study abroad generally comes from another story you listened, read, or consulted.

StudyLink said, " Speak to Friends, Family, Current Tutors, and Teachers" (1). It can be an

influence from an elder relative that had that experience, or entirely from your own decision.

The question that this academic research will answer is: If an elder relative studies abroad; would

it be an encouragement to new high education student or current college student, take the chance

to study abroad?

Not many people put consideration on this question. Actually is hard to find any similar study.

Due to there is lack of information in this topic; students that are or will study abroad do not

considerate the idea that they might have been an older relative that encourage the idea of

studying abroad in their minds. With a simple story of them, a quick talk about a better education

in another country, or letting them know they are free to make the decision where to study.

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The study will focus on students of a southern Florida University. As being one of the largest

Universities to have exchange programs, and that possess a big number of international students.

The academic research results will be based on a survey and a few interviews.

The purpose of this study is to help international students or students that desire to study abroad;

to think whom to listen when taking the decision, and whenever they fell lost while studying

abroad, they can think about the past and considerate who helped them to take the decision of

studying abroad. All this for the knowledge if it is a good idea to study in the country they are

now or will be. The target audiences are international students or local students that are thinking

of studying abroad the whole career, or one or two semesters.

Background Information

If an elder relative studies abroad; would it be an encouragement to new high education student

or current college student, take the chance to study abroad? As many studies show all the good

perspectives on how study abroad helps to grow as a person in all senses. According to

Maharaja, "The American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) (2013) and other scholars stress the

importance of exploring whether the students' investment reaps positive results, among which an

enhancement students' abilities to recognize, understand and respect cultural differences and

students' personal development" (19). All these amazing anecdotes can the encouragement for a

future college student to take the path to increase his/her knowledge in a different country. To

start my academic research essay I will use different methods to collect data. My first method

consists of a random survey with 9 different questions that will be ranked one to five and a short

response. The survey will help me to determine how many students have been encouraged to

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study outside and if is because someone that did it recommended or was they own idea. Also, I

will interview random students at least five no more than ten. All the interviewed must have the

prerequisite to have an older relative that had a study or is studying abroad. Also with the help of

the library, I will gather trustable sources to give all my information credibility; giving citations

and statistics. Hopefully, all the investigation will make my theory (Older relatives that had

studied abroad encourage the young ones to take one, two, or the hole carrier study in the

exterior,) true.

Furthermore, the reason why many people take the shot to study abroad is that the pros outstand

than the cons. Maharaja said, "Study abroad has been one of the strategies implemented by

administrators of higher education for responding to the call for internationalization of higher

education and for providing students with opportunities to acquire competence in facing diversity

in our global world." (21). As stated by Tobin Redwine, Wagner, Rutherford, Wingenbach;

"Serio noted: I feel like one thing is that it helped me to become more independent. After study

abroad, I went on several trips by myself. Before I had only traveled with my family. After study

abroad, I didn't need to rely on others for contentment." (80). Some of the pros are: bring the

opportunity to increase your contacts for future problems, the benefits of developing new skills,

be open to speak a new language, explore, and learn a new reality how people survive or how is

their daily life in a completely different culture. Also become completely independent.

Meanwhile, some of the cons can be: feel homesick, feel isolated, get used to new flavors, and in

the worst case scenario sexual assault. One of the biggest concern among students that want to

explore a new country and increase their knowledge is sexual assault. As no one is prepared to be

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sexually assaulted. Also, they do not fell protected in a country the barely know someone to

support them or help them.

Thus, when it comes where to study abroad most of the cases is because students have heard a

personal story from a relative or a friend. The time to decide which country a student interesting

on; all come in anecdotes that have been investigated and short stories of older people that have a

good experience in a certain country. Also how affordable education is in the country selected to

study. On the report of Nicholls, "When presented with the list of eight factors to rate, the most

important item in the decision-making process matched the open-ended responses; 59.0% of

respondents rated the expected quality of education in the USA as extremely important, and

another 34.3% very important (M = 4.50). Affordability of studying in the USA (3.88), level of

safety/security (3.66) and language(s) spoken were the next most highly rated items." (606). All

these factors can be acknowledged by a relative that already pass through this concerns. The

older generation has the experiences and is the reference to those who want to experience the

same as their relatives have experience.

Moreover, the authors: Redwine, Wagner, Rutherford, and Wingenbach; said: "Braskamp et al.

(2013) note that the intrapersonal domain encompasses both identities and affect. Identity is

characterized by an awareness of what makes an individual unique, and acceptance of

demographic dimensions of an individual's identity." (80). When it comes where a student is

going to fit is all about his personality and how social the student is. The environment a student

and the older relative are educated with the same principles is pretty much the same. This can

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cause a persuasion from the older relative to choose the correct environment and culture where

the student is going to study abroad. Also, this will motivate or demotivate the students as they

hear the experiences the relatives already had, either is good or bad. The older ones know what

can be the best chance for the future generation.

In addition to, one of the fears to study abroad is the language. Many people had struggle

understanding lectures in a language that is not their native. On the report of Castañeda,

"Angélica's struggle with her second language is characterized for the following dimensions:

Painful silences; extended working days; and loss of profundity. With respect to Angélica's

experience dealing with English in the doctoral program, she affirms: Well, it was a very hard

experience. When I had to speak or do a presentation. Every day I had class was a day of

suffering. I could understand everything the professors would say and the content of the books, I

had my own thoughts. And I could do very well on my papers and put my thoughts into them and

that's how the professors would get to know me." (6). Like angelica many graduate students

discovered how to communicate with their professors and friends. The graduates can give tips to

their younger relatives how to manage that stress and how to guide them to a successful

experience. The importance of growing up as a human is to face the problems and know how to

manage them in the best way as possible.

As shown above, this academic research will considerate all the facts to prove or not that older

relatives are a cause to influence in the college student or senior high schoolers to take the full

career, one or two semesters to study abroad. With the help of articles, studies, with surveys, and

different interviews; will demonstrate my statement is true or not. With all the recoated data from

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the surveys, this academic research will show data tables to give realistic numbers to the readers.

The interviews will ask personal anecdotes this person got the idea to study abroad, asking them

personal stories from their relatives that had taken the chance to study abroad and share the

knowledge with them; concluding how they influence by their relatives or was their personal

decision. Hopefully, the students provided to the academic research the pros and cons they have

heard about going to the exterior to study. With articles and studies, the academic research will

get more credibility by quoting each fact that is taken from the articles and studies.

Methods

To clarify is my thesis: " Elder relatives that have studied abroad, have an influence for college

students that are studying or will study abroad;" is true or false, I will make an investigation

based on surveys and interviews.

Survey

The survey will be sent randomly to students from a south Florida university. The Survey will

consist of 9 different questions with short answer, using the program:

https://www.surveymonkey.com. With this information, I will get an average of how many

students that are willing to study or are studying abroad, that was influenced by an older relative

that already took the program. The survey will not provide any identity or personal information

of any student. See consent survey form page "9." The questions asked on the survey are:

1. Gender

Male

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Female

Other:____

2. Are you an international student?

Yes

No

3. Type in which country were you born and grew up?

Born: __________

Grew up:__________

4. From these choices which older relative had study aboard?

Father

Mother

Siblings

Other relative: ______

None of above

5. Are/will you study abroad for:

1 semester

2 semesters

Whole career

None of above

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6. Who motivated you, or had any influence on your decision to study abroad? (Write

any of the options on question 4.)

Older relative:______

Your own choice

7. Have you ever heard the pro and the cons from your older relatives who had studied

abroad?

Yes

No

8. From the scale 1 to 10 how influenced where your older relatives in your decision to

study abroad? As "1" being the least, and "10" the most.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

9. Will you support your children to study abroad?

Yes

No

Interviews

For the interviews, I will interview 2 different international students form a south Florida

university. All the questions will consist of how they got the idea for studying abroad, and the

same questions will be asked to the 2 different international students. For purpose of

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confidentiality, no real names will be used. I will match similarities on the answers to get a

conclusion if somehow all of them where influenced by an older relative.

Questions:

1. Do you have an older relative that had study abroad? Tell about their experience the (pro

and the cons.)

2. Did they had any difficulties in another country? How did the deal with?

3. What was your motivation to study abroad?

4. How did you decide on studying abroad? Was there any influence from your older

relatives?

5. Did they try to stop you from studying in another country, or did they encourage you to

do it?

6. Did any older relative influence you to study the major your studying?

7. Are you studying in the same country your older relative study before? Why do you think

this decision is related to their influence?


Survey Consent Form

How Older Relatives Encourage to Study Abroad

The following information is provided in order to help you to make an informed decision

whether or not to participate. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

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For the purpose of this research, I am interested in finding out if any older relative helps you on

your decision to study abroad. You will be required to answers 8 simple questions.

The main benefits of the study are that it will help identify where there are gaps to know if older

relatives had influenced you to study abroad or was your own choice. The research study will

help future students that have decided to study abroad, considerate why that idea came from.

Your participation in this study is voluntary. You are free to decide not to participate in this

study or to withdraw at any time without adversely affecting your relationship with the

researcher and without fear of having your information/identity revealed. If you choose to

participate, you may withdraw at any time by notifying the Project Director, Diego Martinez at

https://blogmartinez11.wordpress.com. Upon your request to withdraw, you may also request to

have all information pertaining to you destroyed. If you choose to participate, all information

will be held in strict confidence and no attempt to reveal your responses and identity to others

will be made. The information obtained in the study may be published in journals. Finally, I will

keep, either electronically or in print, documents with your name on them.

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Survey Results:

The results of my survey have an equal response between gender, given a 50/50 between male

and females.

Bar graph1

The rate of gender of students of a South Florida University.

83.36% of the population where international students and 13.64% where the local student from

the United States.

Bar Graph 2

The rate of between international students vs local students.

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The diversity from the students was really clear, they were from USA, Oman, Ecuador,

Zimbabwe, Ukraine, Venezuela, Cuba, Italy, India, Kazakhstan, China, and Brazil.

Average of responses

An average number of responses of what country and where the students grew up.

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54.55% said that they did not have any older relative that studied abroad, 18.18% said their

father did study abroad, 13.64% respond their mother study abroad, 9.09% said they had a

sibling that study abroad, 4.55% said other older relative study abroad (Uncles).

Bar graph 4

The rate of witch older relative study abroad.

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With a 77.27 said that they are going to study the whole career aboard, followed by 13.64% that

they will take one semester. Two semester is only 4.55 %, and 4.55% is none of the above.

Bar graph 5

The rate of time students will study abroad.

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Among the population, 95.45% said they were influenced by an older relative, and only 4.55%

said it was their own choice.

Bar graph 6

The average of the population that describe if they were influence to study abroad.

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63.64% have heard about the pro and the cons of studying abroad, meanwhile, 36.36% denies

they have heard about the pros and cons.

Bar graph 7

The rate of students that had hear about the pro and the cons of studying abroad.

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In the scale, 1 to 10, how influenced where their older relatives in their decision to study abroad

was a mean of 7. Meaning more than the half was influenced by an older relative.

Bar graph 8

The average of how influence where students to study abroad

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91.30% will support their children to study abroad, and 8.70% will not support them to study

abroad.

Bar graph 9

The rate of students that will support their children to study abroad

Interviews responses (All the names of the interviewees have been changed)

The first person to be interviewed is Roger. He was born in Chile but raised in Ecuador. He

decided to study abroad Music Production and Engineering in the United States.

1. Do you have an older relative that had study abroad? Tell about their experience

the (pro and the cons.)

“Yes, my dad has various levels of academic degrees that he achieved studying abroad. It's a

great experience because you get to learn not only about your career but also about different

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cultures, languages, different personalities. Of course, there are always some cons like being a

stranger in a country you know very little about the culture and behavior of the people, you are

not as fluent with the language as them, and you basically have to restart your life from zero

because you don't know anyone yet. But with time you learn to overcome them so it's more about

adapting than anything else.”

2. Did they had any difficulties in another country? How did they deal with it?

“The main difficulty is the difference in culture, different language too. But you make friends,

you learn the language, and you concentrate on what it is important.”


"The number of successful students that studied abroad, compared to the ones in Ecuador was

my main motivation. I want to be successful so I decided to follow the steps of one the most

successful Latin-American producers in the music industry."


relatives?

"I wanted to study abroad and my parents encourage me to follow my dreams so I decided. Their

support is what motivated me to take that decision."

5. Did they try to stop you from studying in another country, or did they encourage

you to do it?

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"As I said, they were very supportive, and they definitely encourage me to go for it; if it was

going to help me achieve my goals."


"Not really, I mean they were all very supportive and they were happy to know I had a dream to

follow, but I am the only one graduated from a Music production and engineering degree on my

family."

7. Are you studying in the same country your older relative study before? Why do you

think this decision is related to their influence?

"My dad has studied in different countries but, as I said my main decision to study in the same

country was because it happens to be that the USA has the best programs for Music Production

and Engineering."


"I do not have children, but if I do I will definitely encourage them to have a dream and follow it

no matter what and if studying abroad is what it's best, then, of course, I will support that."

The second interview is John Doe. He was born and raised in Brazil. His current major is

economics. He is the first generation of his family to study abroad.



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" I was the first one from my whole family to study abroad, and I really think I open the doors

for my cousins, my sister, even for my uncles and aunts."


" Yes, I had some difficulties, but the biggest one was the language. I believe that because my

first two or three months here was kind of difficult for me because I couldn't express myself the

way I wanted. To overcome this situation, I tried to communicate as much as I could in English;

I stopped talking in Portuguese as much as I could."


" To peruse a better career for me, because in Brazil we do have opportunities, but is not the

same as the United States. Plus the universities in Brazil we cannot even compare with the

universities of the USA."


relatives?

" I think I already answered question number 4."


you to do it?

" I guess my parents didn't want me to come here at the beginning. But, after thinking they

supported me to pursue my future in the exterior. Although, my relatives disagree with me a lot.

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It was even worst with my older relatives; they said: " No, don't go, don't go." But, anyways I am

here."


" Not really, my relatives they didn't support me or influenced me to study the major I am

studying right now. When I told them I wanted to study economics they were cool with that.

Even though I already chose my major, some of my relatives tried to put me in Law school, but

they couldn't."



" Question number seven doesn't apply for me."


"Of course I will support my children to study abroad. I think this experience is unique, and I

really appreciate that. I am learning with my mistakes here. So this will help them avoid the

mistakes I have done here. I think the will be better than me and enjoy more this amazing

experience."

Last but not least, is Nathan. He was born in Oman, raised in three different countries: Oman,

United States (New York), and Belgium. Son of the ambassador of Oman. His current major is

International Business.

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" My sister studied university in Cleveland. She studied law and without that degree she-wouldn't

be as successful as he is today. She had to be separated from her husband a while as he worked

in a different country but they made it work.


" She came to Oman visit her husband and the children from time to time"


" My motivation to study abroad is to become as successful as possible in the future and lifestyle

as well"


relatives?

" As I lived previously abroad I loved the life and I didn't need much influence what so ever."


you to do it?

" I was encouraged to do as I wish."


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" None of my family influenced what I studied and my father encouraged me to follow what I

liked the most."



" I am studying in the same country as my sister did before but I was influenced previously as I

had the chance to live here for 4 years due to my father's job."


" I will definitely support my future children to study abroad as long as they wish to before my

advice."

Conclusion

Looking all the gathered information above, gives details to answer my research question: "If an

elder relative studies abroad; would it be an encouragement to new high education student or

current college student, take the chance to study abroad?" Starting why this concern came to my

mind, is because I wanted to know if other people were influenced by an elder relative to study

abroad like me. My research question never changes during the investigation; I stick to it. The

information in this paper matter as it will help future generations put attention why are they

studying abroad and do not be lost why they took that decision.

As shown above, in my methods section I will use a survey and interviews. The survey helped

me to gather percentages, to demonstrate how a small part of the population of a Southern

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Florida University was encouraged to study abroad. Meanwhile, the interviews help to

understand the thoughts on being encouraged by an elder relative. Given that, the results section

details in the survey that most of the students had been influenced by an elder relative. One of

the most important questions given was: " Who motivated you, or had any influence on your

decision to study abroad? (Write any of the options on question 4 )" Among the population, the

95.45% said they were influenced by an older relative, and only the 4.55% said it was their own

choice; given that the father was the most influence in the older relatives. As can be seen, many

of the students think that somehow they had a talk to with an older relative that encourage them

to study in another country. As has been noted in the interviews I have three different

perspectives. The first student Roger was completely influenced by their parents to study abroad

to pursue his dreams. As his father study in the United States, he was encouraged to go to this

country to get his diploma. Also, he knows the quality and benefits of studying abroad so he will

support his children to study abroad for a better education and an incredible experience. On the

other hand, John Doe was more of a 50/50 decision, he wanted a better education and get out of

his country. At the beginning his parents never wanted him to leave home, but after thinking they

supported him to perused his dream career in a different country, but his cousins never encourage

or support him to do it. He will explain his children in the future the mistakes and the success he

had studying abroad. Last but not the least, Nathan. His perspective to the research question was

negative to it. As he grew up in different countries he always had his own point of view of

studying abroad. His father is the ambassador of Oman so any choice Nathan wanted to take he

would accept it. But he pointed that his sister study in the same country he is studying right now,

but he denies it has something to do in his decision to study abroad in the united states. Despite

all of that, he will encourage his children to take the path of studying in the outside.

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I hope that all the information gathered in this academic research paper helps college students

that are studying or will study abroad, to understand why they took the decision of studying

abroad. Whenever they fill lost, they can brainstorm and look back who they listened to take the

decision and know it is the best option they have.

On balance, this academic research did not have enough time to gather a bigger survey. It was

difficult to send the survey to students that study abroad. Only a short proportion of the

population complete the survey. But, with the interviews, it helps the academic research to

overcome the number of people that took the survey. I will recommend future research to get a

bigger population for surveys. And more people interviewed.

The main component of this academic research is the results I got from the interviews. Is the

most effective and gives 3 different arguments for my research question: "If an elder relative

studies abroad; would it be an encouragement to new high education student or current college

student, take the chance to study abroad?"

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Reference:

StudyLink. “5 Things to Do Before Making a Final Decision on Studying Abroad.” StudyLink,

University of Lincoln, 2 Dec. 2016, studylink.com/articles/5-things-making-final-decision-

studying-abroad/.

Redwine, Tobin, Sharon Wagner, Tracy Rutherford, and Gary Wingenbach. “Outcomes of Study

Abroad in Three Domains of Human Development.” NACTA Journal, 2018.

Maharaja, Gita. “The Impact of Study Abroad on College Students’ Intercultural Competence

and Personal Development.” International Research and Review, 2018.

Nicholls, Sarah. “Influences on International Student Choice of Study Destination: Evidence

from the United States.” Journal of International Students, 2018

Castañeda, Rosario. “The Graduate Experience: Living and Studying Abroad (A Case Study).”

Revista Electrónica De Investigación Educativa, 2008.

Cook, Chris. “Encouraging Study Abroad Sooner Than Later.” Value and Culture in Ethical

Decision Making, 2010, www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-

Articles/Encouraging-Study-Abroad-Sooner-Than-Later.aspx.

http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/Encouraging-Study-Abroad-Sooner-Than-Later.aspx

http://www.nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-Today/View-Articles/Encouraging-Study-Abroad-Sooner-Than-Later.aspx

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Ksaxon. “Three Ways You Can Encourage Students to Study Abroad.” News, 19 Jan. 2018,

news.utk.edu/2018/01/19/three-ways-you-can-encourage-students-to-study-abroad/.

Lee, Adam. “AmeriStudent Blog.” Direct and Indirect Communication With Your International

Student, 2015, blog.ameristudent.com/5-reasons-encourage-child-study-abroad.

The Editorial Team. “10 Reasons to Encourage Your Children to Study and Live Abroad.”

Expatra, Expatra, 13 June 2017, expatra.com/10-reasons-to-encourage-your-children-to-study-

and-live-abroad/.

The Editorial Team. “10 Reasons to Encourage Your Children to Study and Live Abroad.”

Expatra, Expatra, 13 June 2017, expatra.com/10-reasons-to-encourage-your-children-to-study-

and-live-abroad/.

Blech, Aly. “Top 10 Study Abroad Words of Wisdom.” Hotcourses International, University of

Toronto, 30 June 2015, www.hotcoursesabroad.com/study-abroad-info/once-you-arrive/top-10-

study-abroad-words-of-wisdom/.

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