Welcome
The Study Abroad program is offered through the Engaged Learning Office. Study Abroad prepares you to be a global citizen, engaged learner, and scholar. Through integrating classroom and community-based experiential learning, you will gain an understanding of the diverse global environments and cultures around us. Gain an understanding and appreciation of human differences, develop language skills, dive into service or undergraduate research and/or study global literature through international travel.
Program Learning Goals
- Provide students with theoretical, and/or analytical frameworks, and practical knowledge for living and working in a global society in order to help students to understand how to interact across boundaries and in diverse contexts with a range of people.
- Expose students to different cultures and languages to gain a richer, more nuanced worldview, appreciate difference, and gain cultural humility.
- Help students develop and use intercultural communication and language
- Encourage students to examine the dynamics of power and how it shapes such issues as knowledge, privilege, gender, economics, religion, environment, and/or race relations.
- Employ discipline-specific approaches/methods in critically examining international and/or global issues, processes, trends, events, structures, etc.
Programs
Japan, 2025 May 18 - June 7, 2025
Colombia, 2025 May 18 - June 8, 2025Student Stories
Check out some stories from fellow Bruins who have studied abroad!
Patton Kirkpatrick
Hello! My name is Patton Kirkpatrick and in May of 2024 I was able to participate in SLCC’s Japan Study Abroad program. The experience was amazing. I am so thankful that I was able to go and learn.
Japan was both very similar to the US but also very different. I would say the biggest difference would be in communicating information through context. The way information is presented was different enough to be confusing to me and it took a bit to get used to.
I definitely struggled when it came to actually speaking Japanese. I could tell that some of my classmates were a bit more advanced than I was. There was a lot of times where I couldn't say what I wanted and ended up not saying anything at all.
I still learned a lot though. When it came to the Japanese lessons, I could understand most of what the teachers were saying, which felt pretty good. I have an easier time identifying words and phrases now, though I still struggle with vocabulary and complex grammar.
When it came to the activities and day trips I was fully expected to have to sit out of things or end early due to my physical disabilities. However, I was able to do a lot more than I originally thought. We would walk constantly, and I could keep up pretty much most of the time. My favorite activity we did would be the tea ceremony. It was such a unique experience and I'm glad I was able to do it.
Having my walker with me was a big help. Being able to have a portable seat I can bring anywhere was super handy so I could rest and recover throughout the day.
The students and staff at Shitennoji were amazing. They were so helpful and accommodating. There were sometimes where I felt like a bit of an inconvenience, but I hope that it wasn't too rough on them.
The dorm I stayed at was super nice. I was in my own dorm, which was essentially a full apartment. It was nice not having to share amenities with people but there were also sometimes where it felt a little lonely. I did enjoy the privacy though. Being able to be alone and do what I need was hugely important for me to recover from the daily activities.