Going overseas for university study is an exciting prospect for many people. But while it may offer some advantages, it is probably better to stay home because of the difficulties a student inevitably encounters living and studying in a different culture. To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? Give reasons for your answer.

There is no doubt that going to

study

in a foreign

country

, with its different

language

and culture, can be a frustrating and sometimes painful experience. But while the overseas

study

has its drawbacks, the difficulties are far outweighed by the advantages. Indeed, people who go abroad to course open themselves up to experiences that those who stay at home will never have. The most obvious advantage to overseas university

study

is real-life use of a different

language

. 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. There is no better opportunity to improve

second

-

language

skills than living in the

country

in which it is spoken.

Moreover

, having used the

language

during

one

's studies offers a distinct advantage when

one

is applying for jobs back home that require the

language

. On a university campus, the foreign student is not alone in having come from far away. He or she will likely encounter many others from overseas and it is possible to make friends from all around the world.

This

is not only exciting on a social level, but could lead to important overseas contacts in later professional life.

Finally

, living and studying abroad offers

one

a new and different perspective of the world and, perhaps most important, of

one

's own

country

. Once beyond the initial shock of being in a new culture, the student slowly begins to get a meaningful understanding of the host society. On returning home,

one

inevitably sees

one

's own

country

in a new, often more appreciative, light. In conclusion, while any anxiety about going overseas for university

study

is certainly understandable, it is important to remember that the benefits offered by the experience make it well worthwhile.