Linfield professors share their thoughts on how to create the most meaningful international experience in a few short weeks:
“I always emphasize to my students that the most crucial aspect of our experience abroad is personal and cultural growth, with language playing a significant role in our journey. Language serves as a key that opens doors, enabling us to delve deeper into the culture, build long-lasting relationships with local individuals, adapt to different ways of life and enhance academic engagement. I am always amazed by how students return, affirming that studying abroad has not only helped them to learn about others but also discover about themselves and their direct connection to the world.”
— Tania Carrasquillo Hernández, associate professor of Spanish and Latin American studies, coordinator of the Spanish program
“My January Term experiences are some of my favorites at Linfield — you get to interact with students in a way you normally don’t on campus. You’re with them at the airport at 2 a.m. and you have to let your guard down. One key to a successful course is making sure to schedule time away from the students — I’m not kidding. I usually do courses in two to three cities, and in each one, I always schedule a day with nothing at all. I tell them, ‘get lost,’ but, you know, in a nice way. Go explore. Go find things.”
— Chuck Lundon, professor and chair, Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
“A great January Term course mixes theoretical and experiential knowledge so that both together form an unforgettable union. The knowledge acquired this way is something students don’t forget. When I meet alumni who traveled with me abroad, the first thing they mention is an experience they had during that time abroad that is still so fresh in their minds. Recently, an alum spoke to my classes and told the story of how what he learned during our January Term in Japan and Korea — namely the correct handling of business cards, which led to him securing a contract.”
— Michelle Nelson, professor emeritus of business
“An effective study-away course is something you can’t do anywhere else — it’s the experience of being in that location and there’s no substitute for that. For example, I took my class to French Polynesia, which is what’s known as an outre-mer, a French possession that is legally distinct as an economic unit. It’s like if Hawaii had its own currency. We went to meet with the Institut d’Émission d’Outre-Mer (IEOM), the central bank for Tahiti, to learn about their monetary policy and how to maintain a balance as a small island country. Learning from experts in their own country really changes how students understand things.”
— Eric Schuck, professor of economics
