4 BENEFITS OF STUDYING ABROAD AS A MILLENNIAL
Contents
There is an allure to traveling abroad to study. It’s a certain “je ne sais quoi” that sets in when someone begins to consider moving away from their hometown to learn the Chinese language in China.
It’s the feeling of butterflies fluttering in the stomach.
This desire to move away and see something new is becoming normal for millennials around the globe. An HSBC study surveyed more than 27,000 expats from 100 countries about why they’re choosing to ditch their home countries.
They found that millennials are willing to say goodbye to their hometown friends and decline offers from local colleges. Why? Because they want to experience a new perspective.
Here are four reasons why millennials are choosing to leave their comfort zones to study elsewhere.
WANDERLUST
Most millennials balance the need for education with intense wanderlust, which is a desire and lust for wandering.
With the rise of social media, wanderlust has spread like wildfire as every marketing tactic on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter reinforces millennials’ impulse to book that flight.
Daniel Obst, the AFS CEO, says that “Gen Z students don’t just want to simply travel to other countries; they are looking for authentic experiences through the eyes of local people. These are the adventures and stories they want to experience and share with others.”
It’s not about being a tourist. It’s about living. Young adults want to chase down new cultural experiences. When it is related to learning the Chinese language, Gen Z tends to seek an authentic environment to enjoy both immersive learning trips of Mandarin Chinese and things to do in Kunming. It’s not just about learning, but also about life experience when living and studying abroad.
POLITICS
Politics is a new reason why millennials want to study abroad.
This past year, the government state of affairs has become of interest to young voters, especially in the U.S.A. and U.K. With the political uncertainty in many countries, citizens are looking to leave their homes. A good reason to say goodbye is to study in a new country.
Millennials are looking for countries to study in that are more liberal and accepting of gender, sexual orientation, and ethnicity.
Kunming, China, has a growing population of young students and one reason is that Kunming is home to more than 26 ethnic minority groups. By studying Mandarin in Kunming, you will also have a chance to experience the unique ethnic minority culture in China.
CAREER SATISFACTION
Millennials are opening their textbooks in new countries in hopes that it will benefit their future careers. A gap year program in China is the most common way of practicing it.
How can learning the Chinese language benefit your future career? A study by SmartStudy found that 95% of surveyed students admitted that studying abroad served as a catalyst for increased maturity: something an employer looks for.
Another study found that three-quarters of the respondents acquired skill sets that influenced their future career paths.
While the majority of students who study abroad will go back to their home country for a career, there is an appeal to staying abroad to work full-time.
The growth of “digital nomads” and the redefining of “work” is appealing to youth today. More than half of the expats (52%) aged 34 or younger rated the work culture in their host countries better than back home. Speaking of working in China, the HSK test score is one of the standards to evaluate the Chinese proficiency of an expat. (What is the HSK test? HSK test is an efficient tool to evaluate your Chinese proficiency after learning Chinese Mandarin for a while.)
Are you wondering what one of the most popular destinations is to study and work abroad? It’s China! But why should you study abroad in China? In this gradually globalized world, abroad study experiences, especially those related to China, could bring more benefits for you.
Millennials are traveling to China because they realize the impact of globalization on their career goals. Learning Mandarin, the most spoken language in the world, is a huge benefit for their futures.
GROWING LANGUAGE SKILLS
The most important reason millennials travel abroad to study is that they want to grow their language skills.
Young adults choose to learn Mandarin because China is poised to overtake the United States as the world’s largest economy by 2030. Add to the fact that there are nearly a billion native Mandarin speakers, and you’ve got the two top reasons to grow your language skills.
There are many different options to study a new language, but Keats School in Kunming, China has found that intensive one-on-one immersive Chinese langauge program allow the student to get the most out of their studies. And the small group Chinese class allow young people to save more money during their stay in China, which is a very economical friendly solution when budget is tight.
While the language itself is important, so is the country and city of choice. Students are looking for a place with a good reputation, safe, close to other places for traveling, and welcoming to all people. Kunming city is an ideal place that almost covers all of these selective standards. It has the mildest climate in China, the most authentic Chinese living style to experience, the most various minority groups’ culture to explore, and locals are all hospitality to international people. So many facts approve that Kunming is the best place to study Chinese in China. The most convinced one must be that Kunming is a lovely place to enjoy a slow-pace daily life, which can let you really immerse yourself in the authentic Chinese language environment.
There are more options for learning destinations out of Kunming city when you learn Chinese with Keats School. Dali, Lijiang, Puzhehei, Yuanyang, Xishuangbanna, Tengchong, Jianshui, and Jingmai Tea Mountain, Keats School has set up a well-connected net of Chinese learning destinations across China.
THE WORLD IS THEIR OYSTER
Millennials have grown up with the world at their fingertips and have always been able to connect. They are casually fearless and believe that travel is a level of adulthood to reach and a rite of passage.
So there you have it, 4 reasons why millennials choose to say hello to studying in a new country. After reading this, do you now have the travel bug? Won’t it be fun when your parents and friends have to Google Translate your letters home? We think so.
FAQ
1
1. Can you list out some Chinese cities that suitable for international students?
Kunming city is the best place for you to study Chinese Mandarin. You can take it as your base in China and explore other Chinese cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Xi’an, Chongqing, and Wuhan. Because Kunming boasts the fifth largest international airport in China and a well-developed express train system connecting to different corners of China.
2
2. What things can a foreign student to experience in Kunming, China?
There are so many activities and events for entertainment in Kunming city. Whether you’re a people person or you only want to enjoy a peaceful moment with yourself, Kunming city will satisfy you.
There are various themed pubs and clubs for dancing and drinks. There are also special book stores and coffee shops for you to enjoy a relaxing afternoon of reading. Western-style restaurants and local restaurants can both offer you delicious foods. Theatre, shopping malls, and gyms are all available choices for you to make your life here meaningful.
3
3. Is it possible to study and have the internship at the same time?
If you’re studying at Keats School, it is easy to combine your learning and internship. Keats School has set up a good connection with local enterprises and helped many students build their careers in Kunming. The Keats Mandarin learning community is a place to share language learning experiences, a dynamic community to share various resources, and a platform to reach unlimited possibilities.
4
4. Is it convenient to fly over to China? What about the transportation between different Chinese cities?
Most metropolitan areas have set up direct flights with major Chinese cities in different areas, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Kunming, Chongqing, etc. It is quite convenient to travel over to China. When you arrive in the major cities in China, it is also easy to reach different regions by taking the express train. Some main transportations will make your living in China easier and more convenient.
5
5. Is it expensive to live in China? How about the cost of living in Kunming?
You can always find tricks to save money or live an economic life when studying in China.
How much does it cost to learn Chinese in China? Except for the fixed tuition fee for Mandarin learning, the answer to this question depends on what kind of cost items are included in your daily expense. Besides that, which city are you living in, and what your lifestyle should be considered.
Kunming city is a very budget-friendly place for international students to stay. Commodity price and housing price is relatively low here compared with other major Chinese cities.
Related Articles
Learn Chinese in Beijing
Learn Chinese in Chengdu
Learn Chinese in Dali
Which Chinese Language Program
is right for you?
OVER 7000+ STUDENTS
HAVE STUDIED AT KEATS
I really had a wonderful experience at the school. The teachers are very very friendly. In my class, we practice speaking, listening, reading, and writing. We play games and other fun activities. We have trips around town. The staff at Keats is phenomenal. My teacher is one of the best teachers I have ever had in my educational experience. She comes in with a smile every day.
One thing I really liked was that I was able to work with my teacher to make an individual plan of study. Another really nice thing is that you live at the school, you feel completely safe. You always have a group of people who are willing to do things with you on the weekends or in the evenings. They are serving you all the 3 meals a day, the food was excellent.
So during my first week at Keats, I didn’t dare to speak any Chinese words. I found out that my Chinese level quickly improved since then. Although I have many options to study in China, for example, some other schools have homestay, I found I could immerse myself and fully focus on learning Chinese by staying at Keats.
All teachers are really lovely. The teaching level at Keats is so much higher. I really love the city. It is very comfortable to get around. I fully recommend Keats. It is a great place to study Chinese in China. We are looking forward to coming back again later this year.
It has been notable because I have met a lot of people who I met first time last year like me to come back to Keats this year. The teaching has been fantastic. The teachers carefully prepare each lesson. I think this one-on-one approach is really a great way to rapidly increase your level of Chinese and increase your confidence and fluency with the language.
All my classmates stay together for one year and we improved so much! The teachers at Keats are all very great. They like to organize a lot of activities to help us learn Chinese. I like Keats! I like Kunming!
My name is Sarah Fish. I am 81. I knew very little Chinese when I arrived. How was I going to survive 2 weeks of intensive Chinese course? I have to laugh when I think of that now. What a positive experience this has been! I really wish we could be here a little longer. The teachers are extremely encouraging, evaluating first how much someone knows, and then starting from there.
I think Keats is one of the best language schools I have ever been to. My teacher is such an amazing person. She is so good at teaching. She makes classes fun. I have learned a lot of vocabulary during my time here. I would really recommend coming to learn Mandarin Chinese at Keats School.