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The Benefits of Studying Abroad

Isis A. Ruiz- Hurtado

University of Texas at El Paso

Renee Malooly

RWS 1321
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The Benefits of Studying Abroad

English philosopher Sir Francis Bacon once said, Travel in the younger sort, is a part of

education; in the elder, a part of experience. Studying Abroad has become more popular over

the years among colleges, universities, and study abroad organization. The act of leaving the

home country, and going to study in an unfamiliar environment is something that is being

practiced by more and more students every year. However, when you compare the number of

students who leave, with the ones who stay, the difference is crushing. Whether it is because they

do not know enough about the subject, or because they do not have the means to study abroad,

students are not doing it enough. The issue has been addressed by two genres who seek to

inform, and educate about the benefits of studying abroad. The New York Times Magazines

article, Why Every Student Should Study Abroad, explains the benefits brought by studying

abroad and gives a few helpful tips for those who cant afford it, and the TEDxTalk video

featuring business entrepreneur Marina Meyer, informs why students should study abroad while

talking about the benefits it brought to her and how the experience made her into the woman she

is today. The topics discussed in these two genres, and the authors/ speakers views from their

own point of view on the subject will be talked about throughout the analysis.

Audience and Purpose

The intended audience for the first genre, The New York Times Magazines Why Every

Student Should Study Abroad, would be students, parents, teachers, and the magazines

subscribers. A group of people who seek to expand their horizons, or for their pupils, but not

necessarily informed on the subject. The purpose of the articles authors, Allan E. Goodman, and

Stacie N. Berdan, is to persuade and inform the audience of the benefits and skills that will be

obtained by studying abroad and the opportunities available to students who want to go.
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Goodman and Berdan seek to convince the audience by talking about how it is imperative for

students to do it in order to succeed in the global economy. It clearly raises awareness with the

percentages of students who dont do it compared with those who do, bringing awareness to the

audience.

For the second genre, TEDxTalk, Why Study Abroad by Marina Meijer, the intended

audience would be students, parents, and discourse communities of travel enthusiasts. The

purpose of the speaker is to persuade her audience of take the chance to study abroad by taking

of her personal experiences while studying abroad. Meijers talk is so charming it sounds almost

like a personal conversation giving the audience a sense of trust, transformed into agreement

with her belief of the life changing experience of studying abroad.

Comparing both genres in the audience and purpose theme, it can be stated that both the

article and the video target students, parents and teachers. However, they both differentiate in the

way they target their audience. One goes for the informational side, while the other goes for the

emotional, empathy way.

Rhetorical Issues: Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Both genres, the article and the video, show the three rhetorical issues, although not

targeted in the same way.

Ethos

In the first genre, the New York Times Magazine article was written by Allan E.

Goodman, and Stacie N. Berdan. Goodman is known for being the Institute of International

Education president, while he and Berdan are co-authors of A Students Guide to Studying

Abroad, a commonly read book by students who are traveling to other countries. The article is of

about 600 words, a short article for the commonly known long articles of the New York Times,
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the worlds most famous and prestigious article. On the second genre, the TEDxTalk, the speaker

of the talk is Marina Meijer, a UT alumna who owns three successful companies, UStudy,

GUTS, USActive; companies she says she wouldnt own if it wasnt for her study abroad trips.

During the talk, she is can be seen as a confident, educated woman, who knows what she is

talking about.

Pathos

For the emotions target, the authors of the article dont use a lot of emotion to persuade

the parents, they prefer to go for the professional side of things. The article does not include

pictures, giving it a sense of seriousness. The authors argue that parents, teachers, advisers, and

even employers should support studying abroad due to the professional, and work experiences it

would give to students who do it. In the TEDxTalk video, the orator does turn to the emotional

point of view of things. Meyer explains how her trips completely changed her life, giving her a

completely personal identity. One of the anecdotes she tells the audience, is how during her trip

to Korea she got the opportunity to work study at the city hall, and how at first she was seen as

the strange girl who at her 20s wasnt married yet and was doing a mans job, however at the end

she gained their respect, and on the way she had a few karaoke night outs with her coworkers.

She definitely gives the audience that sense of having to get out there to truly live life.

Logos

The first genre keeps a professional tone towards the audience, giving the article the

logos factor in their piece. The typed of evidence found in the genre include a fact that proves the

alarming awareness of students not taking advantage of the adventure of studying abroad: only

10% of students study abroad in their college careers from approximately 20 million students in

the United States. Another evidence are the benefits acquired from studying abroad, such as
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learning another language, learning about another culture, environment, experience diversity,

dismiss stereotypes, and last but not least, to be leaders in sectors that need urgent attention. The

second genre also provides a couple of facts related to studying abroad, however they appeal to

the audience in a different manner. The first fact was taken from a recent study done in her home

country of Finland, which says that at of students who study abroad meet their spouse abroad.

And to prove her point, Meijer talks about her husband, and how they met while studying

abroad. The second study shows that from the whole population in the world, at least 1 million

babies are a result from a study abroad relationship; for this fact she did not have a story, but she

recounts that her parents also met abroad (mom from Japan, dad from Finland) and she considers

herself a product of study abroad. Meijer also talks about the benefits studying abroad left her,

not only did she find her husband, but she also acquired life changing experiences such as the

ones mentioned before, among career experience, cultural and language education that she could

not have gotten in a classroom, among other things.

Structure and Delivery

Both genres have the same topic, however they address it in different ways, reflecting in

the way they are organized. The New York Times Magazine article begins by throwing alarming

facts, and then it continues the professionalism by directly taking to parents, teachers, employers

and urges them to take action. The article has no pictures, making it more serious. The TEDxTalk

begins by also going in the professional way, by talking about the benefits studying abroad left

her professionally. However, as the talk progresses she becomes more comfortable in her

environment and begins telling her anecdotes, and even shows a couple of pictures up on the

screen. Still, comparing both genres, it is seen that the information is addressed correctly, given
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the platform though which they are presented. The article delivers serious and appropriate

information, while the talk is seen as more approachable.

Conclusion

At the end, both genres prove to know the subject well, and to be aware of the issue. The

first genre was more serious than the second one, but they still urge their audiences to take the

change of studying abroad. Studying abroad is a once in a life time opportunity that should not

be taken lightly. Because the real cost of not traveling is not gaining the experience.

References

Goodman, A.E., & Berdan, S.N. (2014). Why every student should study aborad. The New York

Times. Retrieved from http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2013/10/17/should-more-

americans-study-abroad/every-student-should-study-abroad

TEDxTalks (2015). Why study abroad. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=P1Zha2CrJZ0

(n.d.). Francis Bacon quotes. Retrieved from

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/f/francisbac135173.html