My school isn't like that - I went abroad to England because I didn't want to learn a language, but even then you're essentially kicked out into city on your own, and in the other countries I know that most students are housed with a family of the area and not really given the option of sticking with their countrymen, so to speak; and that's the ones that choose to go to the official "campus" of the university rather than just use my uni to get into another school - but I'm certain quite a few schools are. ^^ Actually, I'm pretty sure that's a universal student custom - certainly the tourist-students that come to my town don't bother learning any more English than that!
I see. I shan't generalize, but what I have seen was: 1) no contact with local scholars, no contact with local students 2) ok, they live with local families, but socialize with their classmates, who are almost exclusively from the university of origin. It's quite common to stick with other foreigners when one studies abroad, but if one studies in a local branch of his/her national university, then one generally does not mix, never mind the locals, not even with people from other countries in similar situation (which is what usually happens when people study at the local university). Of course, there are always exceptions. What I've seen were people who spend most of their time in company of their countrymen. For academic reasons it's also better to get directly to a big university, as the important experts are there. I mean, if you are coming for longer than a year, this is very important. if it's just a short stay, then the branch can be a good option.
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montagnarde1793
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Date: Wednesday, 9 September 2009 21:51 (UTC)(no subject)
Date: Wednesday, 9 September 2009 22:03 (UTC)1) no contact with local scholars, no contact with local students
2) ok, they live with local families, but socialize with their classmates, who are almost exclusively from the university of origin.
It's quite common to stick with other foreigners when one studies abroad, but if one studies in a local branch of his/her national university, then one generally does not mix, never mind the locals, not even with people from other countries in similar situation (which is what usually happens when people study at the local university). Of course, there are always exceptions. What I've seen were people who spend most of their time in company of their countrymen.
For academic reasons it's also better to get directly to a big university, as the important experts are there. I mean, if you are coming for longer than a year, this is very important. if it's just a short stay, then the branch can be a good option.