Language proficiency as a motivating factor to study abroad

       Learning foreign language is one of the influential factors that motivate foreign students to study abroad. Majority of them prefer to study at countries whose languages are more recognized and spoken in the world. I think, you will not be surprised to learn that United States is ranked the first place at hosting foreign students, which is tantamount to 17% of all foreign students (OECD, 2013). Thereby, language acquisition plays an important role in choosing host country to study in. 

     In my opinion, the reason why graduates all over the world want to improve foreign language competence is the result of current situation of job market in home countries. So, the origin countries itself promote the need in acquiring skills in foreign language. Qi Wu (2014) also claims that in case of Chinese students the reasons for going for overseas education is an “ interpretation of their experience in their country”. So, the language acquisition is supposed to be as a pull factor so well push factor that motivate foreign students to opt overseas education. As the result, learning foreign language one of motivating factors for international students to study abroad.  

     What I found is that many studies write about language skills as the factor that pushes foreign students to get international experience, but not so much about the use of those skills after coming back to home country. In what extent foreign students will be able to use the foreign language skills is under the question, as the possibilities of origin country may not match acquired knowledge abroad. Despite the fact that foreign language is one of the main factors to cross border of mother country, there is a need to explore how fully those skills are used in students’ lives after returning to mother country.

Reference

OECD (2013). Education at a Glance 2013: OECD Indicators,

      http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/eag-2013-en

 Wu, Q. (2014). Motivations and Decision-Making Processes of Mainland Chinese Students for

      Undertaking Master’s Programs Abroad. Journal of Studies in International Education, 18(5),

      426-444.