Students study abroad during summer semester

Traveling the world is a dream for some, a goal for others and an attainable educational opportunity for students at the University of West Florida. There are more than 20 countries covering five continents available through UWF partnerships for study abroad experiences. Students who study abroad enjoy the opportunity to immerse themselves in a new culture and have the chance to learn valuable lessons which last a lifetime. UWF students Feitosa and Rebecca Sullivan recently embarked on study abroad trips offered through the university’s International Education Office.

Leonardo Feitosa, a junior international studies major from Brazil, has a goal to work in international business and be fluent in four languages including German. He is already fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese. He chose to study this summer in Germany knowing that the experience would give him an opportunity to establish German has his fourth language.

“I did not speak any German when I first arrived,” said Feitosa. “I thought it would be much easier to communicate in English. I have found it to be challenging to communicate because people do not speak English. This has been helpful though because I was forced to improve my German.”

Like Feitosa, Rebecca Sullivan, a junior elementary education major and Spanish minor, also chose to study abroad in order to practice her foreign language skills. She recently spent six weeks in Costa Rica in order to improve her Spanish-speaking skills and gain confidence in her abilities to converse with natives.

“I want to be able to walk into an interview and speak as close to fluently as possible,” said Sullivan. “I really feel like the best way to do that is through an immersion experience.”

Sullivan says that UWF’s Study Abroad Program has not only provided her with an educational opportunity, but also with an unforgettable personal life changing experience. While in Costa Rica Sullivan learned valuable lessons including how to barter, how many recipes there are for rice and beans and perhaps most importantly, how to help others by translating for those who only speak Spanish.

“It is so empowering and such an amazing feeling to know that even though my Spanish isn’t perfect I can still help people and that they’re impressed that I’m trying,” said Sullivan.

For more information about UWF’s Study Abroad Program, visit uwf.edu/intered/studyabroad.

Written by Josh Lyons, University Marketing Communications