Learning Beyond the Classroom

The Department of World Languages and Cultures provides individual attention to all its majors and minors and prepares students in second language acquisition, offering opportunities to study for an academic year or for either fall or spring semesters at some of the most prestigious institutions of higher learning around the world.

Crossing Borders (aka Convivencia) 2009: Study and Travel to Spain

Crossing Borders (aka Convivencia) 2010: Study and Travel to Spain and Morocco

Office of International Programs

As study abroad continues to grow in popularity nationwide, Merrimack College proudly anticipates increased interest among the student body and looks with excitement to the initiation of more impressive programs for our students. All new and approved programs will carry on Merrimack's excellent academic reputation, and on some programs, students' scholarships and financial aid will be portable. With programs in many parts of the world, we can truly offer students the full spectrum of cultural and academic experiences. Each program offers a unique experience. While Granada, Spain represents the Spain of which Hemmingway wrote, complete with bullfights, gypsies, and flamenco, blue skies and flower boxed-windows, Angers, France, located in the Loire Valley, is the cradle of France's monarchy and famous for its beautiful castles. Both programs are popular among Merrimack students.

Recognizing the global nature of the world today, increased numbers of students seek out international experiences that will give them an edge on a graduate school application, in the job market, or simply allow them to develop a broader sense of themselves as citizens of the world. One student, upon her return, commented:

"Having been abroad one semester, I can't imagine missing out on the experience. The opportunity to be a resident in Spain, rather than just a tourist cannot be duplicated. I came back feeling so different from my friends who stayed home. It's like I know more than they do, not about literary theory, but more about the world, about people, and about life. I only wish I could have stayed the entire year!"

Professors also notice when students bring a new approach into the classroom. One professor notes:

"The most important thing students learn in an abroad experience is to observe carefully. In a new cultural context, they have to observe, take time to evaluate, and then attempt to integrate into a new way of dealing with everyday reality that provides them with another way of thinking about themselves. This develops within them a new perspective and an appreciation for different ways of approaching their daily lives and their future goals. They realize that they can still learn new things about themselves and the world at a time in their lives when they are likely to think that they know all about themselves. It opens them up to learning about themselves in a way nothing else can."

Study Abroad

A study abroad experience provides an international education, advanced academic study and improved competency in the target language, which we believe prepares students to be active members of a world community.

Student Testimonials

Read about what students said about their study abroad experience!

"I studied in Angers, France for one semester in 2001 at the Universite Catholique de l'Ouest and I worked in France from 2004-2005 as an English Assistant in two French middle schools. Both experiences helped mold me in so many ways; the way I view and accept different cultures, the willingness to be true to myself and to have a purity of purpose, to be pro-active and not re-active within all aspects of life, a wonderful ability to communicate in French, a passion of interacting with other people, teaching and learning, and lastly a great love to travel. I work for a wonderful company within the dental industry. I am a Technical and Sales Advisor; a position that requires a lot of travel and very high quality interactions, with Dental Laboratory owners and presidents to managers, to sales and marketing teams, to dental technicians. There is an opportunity for me to return to France, for my employer is currently having open dialogue with prospective clients and laying the foundation for possible relationships with French dental laboratories and French dentists. And without my experiences abroad, I do not feel that the possibility to return to France would be imaginable." Aaron Roux

"My experience abroad was probably the most fun and most interesting 3 and 1/2 months of my life. Being abroad really gives you a sense of understanding other cultures. I think a lot of kids these days are very ignorant to foreign culture because they have never been exposed to an experience such as study abroad. Being submersed in the language and the people allows you to compare and contrast how a society conducts themselves as opposed to the way you are normally familiar with at home. For example, here in the United States, teenagers and young adults do a lot of binge drinking on the weekends "just go get drunk." Italians are very casual drinkers. They go out with friends, have a few glasses of wine and keep it low key (only expectation was when Roma beat Lazio 3-2 haha... that was a crazy). Another cultural difference I noticed was the importance of dinner. I feel like here we eat dinner to satisfy our hunger and leave the table. In Italy dinner is very important and seen as more as a social event rather than merely eating and taking off to do other things. Those are just a few things we noticed immediately.

The first weekend there, we could tell simply by observing others around us who were studying abroad and who was a local Italian, because we were the only loud and obnoxious people at the bar. We soon understood these differences and learned how to "fit in" a little better. Going abroad isn't all books and homework either. I think it is the most fun anyone could ever have with a group of strangers. You meet new and interesting people that are there for the same reasons you are: to understand various cultures and to have fun. I traveled almost every other weekend domestically and internationally. Amalfi, Sorrento, Capri, Pompei, Orvieto, Tarquinia, Cinque Terre, Firenze, Venezia, Salerno, Palermo, all places that we visited on our own or with our study abroad group. My friends and I also went to London and Prague. Unfortunately I didn't get to travel too much out of Italy. If I had one suggestion to people going abroad, it would be to be organized and book your trips way in advance. Some of my friends, myself included made the mistake of waiting until the week before to book trips around Europe. By this time, most of the flights have been filled up and the prices of the remaining seats have increased enormously. Purchase a monthly planner and plan your weekends in advance.

The first couple of weeks, while you're settling in, go online and book flights to your desired destinations. I regret not doing this because it really prevented me from traveling as much as I would have liked too. I spent many weekends experiencing the Roma Nightlife. There are plenty of bars, clubs, and restaurants to visit throughout Rome; there's no possible way to see them all in a 3 months time. Studying abroad really relieves people of the ignorance to foreign cultures. I feel more like a mature, more responsible individual knowing what else is out there and how things differs from our traditions and culture. It feels good to get away from the norm and live life according to different culture that's been passed on for generations. Living with new people thousands of miles from your everyday life truly does change you into a more responsible person. It gives you an extreme feeling of individuality while being exposed to a broader perspective of life." Peter Vitale

"Studying abroad was an amazing experience. I spent the spring 2007 semester in Sevilla, Spain. My Spanish definitely improved while there, but I got much more out of the experience. I lived in a foreign country for four months and was totally immersed in the culture while learning so much about the world and myself. I traveled all over Spain and other countries in Europe. I met some awesome people who made the trip so much better. Everyday was something new to experience. My time in Sevilla was the best four months of my life. I miss Sevilla everyday and am dying to get back to Europe." Taryn Broughton