Study abroad programs are unique to the college experience. They offer numerous benefits and are a great opportunity for students! West Valley is offering various study abroad trips during the Summer of 2025 — including the Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam trip with Professor Christina Stevenson from the English department, which will be previewed below.
During this South East Asia trip students will visit Ho Chi Minh, Siem Reap, and Bangkok. The trip will be in partnership with the EF Study Abroad program. Some highlights include exploring the Angkor Thom temple, visiting the Viet Cong tunnel system, the War Remnants Museum, and the Grand Palace and Emerald Buddha, among other sites and activities. There will be dedicated time for students to explore, but the days will be filled with activities and educational opportunities to be fully immersed in the culture and history. The trip will be from June 15 - June 25, with a departure from San Francisco. Students must be enrolled at least 120 days before the departure, with more deadline information coming in the upcoming Spring semester. This trip is open to all majors as the class is transferable and covers GE requirements such as humanities and Ethnic Studies Area F. Enrollment in the class is not required to participate in the trip, but keep in mind there may be less scholarship resources available.
The class will cover Asian American literature (ENGL-018), looking specifically at the theme of environment and identity. Students will be reading Asian American authors and consider the history and culture of Asia and its significant influences in America. Students will be making personal reflections in their travel journals throughout the trip. There will be two class meetings on Zoom before the trip departure and a final reflection paper after the trip.
The cost of the trip will total to $5,590 which includes a protection plan, transportation, hotel, and breakfast (EF program). Students have to cover passport and visa, baggage fees, money for personal use, lunches and snacks outside of this total. The cost of enrollment in the class is not included in the trip. A minimum of ten students will have to enroll for the trip to be made possible. The first ten students will be guaranteed financial assistance so early enrollment is better! Students can also apply to EF scholarships and use the EF personal donations page or utilize West Valley study abroad scholarships and AANHPI assistance. LEAF Club will also be offering scholarships for students, regardless of participation in this club. However, LEAF scholarship recipients will be asked to participate in a workshop in collaboration with the club. More information will be available in the spring. Early enrollment is crucial so students can plan and find resources to help with the costs. Start by filling out the interest form at the bottom!
Additionally, West Valley is offering other study abroad trips — all during the month of June — detailed below.
Professor Nils Michals from the English Department will be taking students to Ireland as part of ENGL-001B, Critical Thinking Through Literature. Per Professor Michals’s words, “we'll contemplate the works of the city’s four Nobel Prize winners — Yeats, Beckett, Shaw, and Heaney — and consider how experiencing a new culture might influence your own. We'll walk in these writers’' footsteps, visit various literary museums, and witness the landmarks that served as famous settings and inspirations for familiar stories. Other famous writers, such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde, and Elizabeth Bowen will figure prominently in the experience, as will a day excursion to Belfast to learn about ‘The Troubles’ and the history of Irish Rebellion against England. Finally, we'll travel out to the Irish countryside to visit ruined castles and see the Cliffs of Moher.”
Furthermore, Professor Lenore Harris from the English Department has been working on creating a Black Experience Study Abroad. The current trip has been stalled, but a revised trip is in the works. The Helm will keep you posted on any updates. Professor Chris Cruz is excited to return to the Dominican Republic for a trip on environmental citizenship. Look out for future editions for more information on these exciting trips! More information can be found at: https://www.westvalley.edu/study-abroad/
As mentioned, study abroad offers various academic and personal benefits. William will discuss his experience attending a trip last summer.
Hello dear readers! Last summer I had the immense privilege of participating in the Global Citizenship Seminar in Salzburg, Austria, as part of the BUSN-061 class. I heartily recommend signing up for such a trip, as this is truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. While this is based on my experience, a study abroad trip is always a magnificent experience that rewards you in a multitude of different ways. The most prominent benefit of attending a study abroad trip is the bridges that you will build. At first, you may know not all of the individuals in your group, yet I guarantee that you will rapidly develop long-lasting bonds with your fellow classmates. Another wonderful aspect of this trip is that you will have the occasion to practice and learn a foreign language. In Austria, the time I had spent on Duolingo learning German certainly came in handy, especially at restaurants!
Overall, a study abroad trip like this is a wonderful mark on your resume. During interviews, your future employers will be curious and ask you questions on your experience. It will make for great interview material, and it will likely increase your chances of being hired, as opportunities such as this one are rare and unique. Participating in such a trip will most certainly develop your independence, as you will be many miles away from home, far from your family. Furthermore, there will be some time set aside where you will be able to explore the local whereabouts, and you will be following your heart’s desires as to what to visit, all of which contributes to forging your independence. Speaking of visiting, a study abroad trip will strengthen your spatial orientation skills and calves, as there will be a lot to visit on foot. Speaking from personal experience, you will be in top shape upon your return home!
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