Landing in a foreign land, surrounded by unfamiliar people, customs can give any one a harrowing time, at least for the first couple of months, where the only respite would be to talk to ones loved ones, which ever medium it might be through. This is where technology comes to our rescue. Communicating with our loved ones is no more a hassle and also need not cause a fortune. Let us explore a few of them here.

Skype

Skype is more than handy while studying abroad, as it offers free video chatting and allow one to make phones at fraction of a cost. Depending on your location and country to which you are making the call, Skype credit can be purchased and calls can be made to mobile numbers and landlines. This really helps in an emergency, when one does not have access to a computer or if the time difference makes it difficult to make a Skype chat.

 Whats App

This application has taken the world by storm and is considered one of the fastest, convenient and cost effective way as it allows one to text internationally through ones data plan, and help keep in touch with family  and friends, without bearing international texting charges. The best part is that even if there are internet disruptions, incoming texts notifications are received as soon as you are connected to the internet.

Facebook

Face book is probably   the world’s most explored tool by people, which helps one to stay in touch with family and friends, no matter which part of the world they reside, as it not only allow one to chat with friends in ones friend list, it also allows one to post photos within a matter of seconds, helping you post your status which your loved ones can track.

Google chat and hangouts

Google+ and Google Hangouts are wonderful applications which help one have normal chats and video chats; with a number of people simultaneously this can be a great way to interact with your friends and family without trying them separately. Once in a week scheduling a video chat can help you keep a tab on all happenings back home.

 Phone Calls

International phone calls by no means are cheap, so that this cannot be a regular feature. For those who can afford this luxury, many exciting plans are provided by telephone service providers. So choose a plan that has maximum talk time and minimum call rate and top up options.  Make full use of a time slot when calls are charged the bare minimum, which is usually during the wee hours. If these suit your home country’s time zone, make the most out of it.

Emails

Email is the best option to communicate with your near and dear ones back home, which only requires internet connections at both the ends.  You can write (read type) your heart out, without bothering about the limitation of words, space consumed etc. The best part is that, you can attach your photographs along with your mail and simply sent it across within a second.  Though mails are not fashionable way of communication in this lightning quick world, it is still effective.

Snail Mail

Though this is never suggested for swift and reliable communication it still has its charm as the feel of writing in your own handwriting and that your loved ones are getting the message in a tangible form in itself strikes a emotional chord, so it would be a best choice to sent a snail mail or use a post card to scribble some lines on it and sent it across.  Your family would love to receive it from you.

Though this is not an exhaustive list of tools that aid your study abroad communication needs, at least one might serve your purpose, so cheer up,  studying abroad does not mean you are totally cut off from your family and friends. Make the most of cost effective communication tools and stay connected throughout your study abroad phase.

Necessity can make you do things, which at a point of time seemed impossible, the same is applicable, when you land up in a new country as a student and find that your knowledge of English, is not of much help in communicating with the locals and immersing in its culture, and after all, knowing the language of the land, where,  one is going to spend a sizeable time, first as a student and then may be as a professional, would require at least some hold on the language. Let us look at how to making this learning experience fruitful.

• Take a strong resolution    

Conditioning your mind is the way forward. Learning a new language by any stretch is not going to be an easy job, as it will take months to see any tangible result. Keep up your motivation levels high and tell yourself that you are certainly going to master it.  Certain languages with its pronunciations etc, can take some time to set in,  take it all part of the challenge and move on, reminding that you are going to benefit, big time, both on personal as well as professional front.

• Get enrolled in a language class

Though some may not agree with it, leaning a new language becomes slightly easier, when the conventional class room way is adopted, as they train you about the different aspects of the language, its pronunciations vocabulary, potential grammar mess ups, accent training etc, and most importantly, you learn all these amidst people, who are on the same language proficiency level, which will help you to talk more freely and without any inhibitions or shyness. If your university doesn’t offer language courses, look for institutions, offering part time language classes in your city.

• Never restrict your learning to the class room

Never leave any opportunity to pick up the language, may be a stroll in the park or visit to a cinema or a restaurant or a sightseeing trip with your friends, can offer you opportunities to learn a new words and get to observe variations in slang, the nature of voice modulation etc, this can help you brush up, what you have learned in the class room.

• Talk Talk Talk

There is no substitute to talking, when it comes to learning a new language. Don’t miss an errand to strike a conversation on just about anything. Conversations, however small it may be, can help you overcome that language block and develop confidence to speak in public.

• Prepare to make mistakes

It goes without saying that you are bound to make mistakes while learning a new language.  Never think about quitting.  Though certain languages seems a bit difficult to grasp initially, have patience and continue to have short conversations with people around, may be your local friends, nearby shop owners etc.  However crude your language might sound, no one is going to sent you to the gallows on account of it and on the contrary, would be all praise for the effort being put in the initiative.

• Set your new language as the phone language

This seems quite simple, but 99 out of 100 people do not make use of this.  Wondered how much time is spend texting, why not do it in the language that you are learning.  May be a few grammar mistake here and there will not cause any significant  harm as you are texting your friends  and at worst by making some mistakes,  you will invite some laughter which is no big price for a brave effort.

So start practicing, you never know, may be by next year you would be the one who will be initiating a new bloke to a language class.

Keeping a check on spending is a difficult feat to accomplish, even more where you are in a new country as a student, with very little knowledge about the local currency. Spending recklessly can leave you cash strapped, well before the cash reinforcement from back home arrives. Here are 7 tips on how to how to avoid a cash crunch while being abroad as a student.

• Cook on your own 
  

Though enjoying local delicacies is very much an important part of your study abroad experience, eating out on a regular basis can burn a hole in your pocket. Self cooking is the best way out, with how to cook videos rampant on the internet and cook books in plenty, cooking your own meal is not going to be much of a fuss, which part from churning out healthy food, can also help you save loads of money.

• Eat out at modest restaurants

Modest restaurants are seen to serve foods that have an ethnic feel to it and  are known to serve local delicacies with ingredients sourced locally,  which makes the food far cheaper than what you get at high end restaurants. There are chances that you might get to savor some exotic recipes, which conventional restaurants do not have on their menus, all at half the amount you might have otherwise coughed up at a high end restaurant.

• Take to public transports

Travelling is one area that gobbles up lot of your money, hiring a cab can be an expensive option.  Get yourself acquainted with the route and timing of the local transport system like bus, trains, trams etc.  It wouldn’t be a bad idea to walk to places which are quite nearby, this apart from getting some exercises, will get yourself acquainted with the nearby places.

•  Shop responsibly

This is one area where most of us lose the plot and end up spending lot on money on things that catch our fancy,  without even thinking about whether it is required or not. Though qualities of products we buy are important, you don’t have to shop at expensive malls or supermarkets that charge a premium.  Take to shop at cheaper supermarket and look for discounts and offers.  Signing up on loyalty programs can ensure that you get the best deal.

• Share your accommodation

Unless you require a hell lot of space to live in, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to share your room with a fellow student, this part from reducing the rent burden can help you save on additional cost like the internet bill, maintenance charge, news paper etc. If the roommate is from your part of the country there is every possibility of sharing a meal with him, which can bring down your monthly expense to a large extent.

• Make use of cheaper communication means

International calls add up to a major monthly expense for students from abroad as most students, call up family on a daily basis and end up paying a hell of a lot of money on expensive call plans. Making use of international calling cards or using specialized overseas calling plans can help you save a lot of money.  Internet telephony and instant chat options like what’s app, viber, G talk etc have made contacting families back home well within the budget for every international student.

Follow these simple tips and stay financially healthy all through your study abroad period.

The very thought of Studying abroad generates great amount of excitement. The Question of where to study abroad is a tricky one,  with endless number of options being available,  with each destination having its  unique selling propositions pertaining to type of program offered , post  study job opportunities, permanent residence opportunities  to note a few, giving room for confusion. Here are six questions to consider before choosing a study destination abroad.

• Is the destination best for the course I am choosing?

This is a question that student intending to study abroad should ask themselves, though study destinations offer a range of programs, they have their unique selling propositions like USA, which is known world over for its MBAs and Master programs in computers, bio technology, medicine etc to mention a few, whereas UK is known the world over for its arts and humanities  programs and Sweden and Germany for engineering courses etc.  It is important to choose the country that is best for the course you intend to pursue, based on different parameters like the educational system of the country, nature of the institutions, teaching methods adopted etc

• What is the medium of instruction?

This is of prime importance, as deciding on the medium of instruction; narrows does your search for study destinations.  If English is your preferred medium of instruction, USA, UK, Australia, Canada can be ideal choice, though cost may be on the higher side.  Countries like Germany, Sweden etc are also slowly taking up their due positions and are being taken note of for their top rated programs with comparatively low tuition fees. A host of other European and South east countries are also gaining prominence for their quality programs, especially medicine studies, which are offered in English as well in the respective national language.

•  How difficult is the entry and visa requirement of the study destination of your choice?

Admission requirements and visa requirements are things,  one should keep in mind before deciding on the study destination, though no effort should be  spared to  gain entry to the best institution possible in the country of your choice,  this is where your educational qualifications, back log history, Marks, language proficiency  test grades etc  are taken in to account. Be realistic in choosing a destination depending on the strength of your profile and where entry is possible and visa formalities are less cumbersome and time consuming.

•  What is the value of the qualification offered? Is it recognized worldwide and in my country?

Acceptability of the qualification is a crucial factor in deciding where to study, as you are investing precious time and money. There should not be any laxity in ensuring that the university or institution selected is a credible one and its qualification are accepted globally and back home in your country. The study destination can seem to be attractive with liberal entry requirements, economical fees and scholarships etc but all that must not take precedence over the credibility and the acceptability of the qualification offered.

•  Does the destination opted fit my budget?

Finance is an important factor in deciding the destination of study. One has to realize about the cost of education he / she will have to bear for the entire period of study, which should include the tuition fees, boarding fees, food, travel etc.  Though one may gain student loan or scholarship, getting to know the realistic figure about the options, one have in mind is important in deciding which destination to choose.

• How good is the destination with regard to employability?

This is a factor most students and parents overlook when selecting study destination.  In fact the return of investment aspect needs to take precedence over the affordability part  as destination with excellent economy and greater economic avenues might seem on the expensive side, but offer  great career opportunities for pass outs ,  as the industry  in these country offer internships, training and placements in their areas of study which is vital in gaining a job soon after studies, so the return on investment is rather fast rather than options for a economical study destination with poor or mediocre prospect of gaining a job soon after course completion.

Still not able to decide on your study abroad destination?  Feel free to contact Santa Monica study abroad Pvt. Ltd., the trusted overseas education facilitation with over 13 years of experience in the domain, facilitating admission to over 200 universities/institutions to 20 + countries across the world. Contact us on 0484-4140999.

A successful career is a dream of all, even more, when you have decided to pursue studies abroad. This is a crucial period of time, with studies obviously taking a centre stage. But it should never be limited to merely engrossing in studies, a mistake most students commit. Study abroad period can get you loads of international exposure, which should be utilized to transform oneself into a cosmopolitan citizen, one who effortlessly becomes part of any environment, a priced quality, rated higher than academic prowess by foreign employers.  Here are few tips on how to make most use of this period abroad and get transformed.

• Learn the local language

This is very important, as it brings down the language barrier and can make you more acceptable in the new environment.  At least, one should develop an armory with the most essential words and a couple of common salutations; this can help you start a conversation initially. Once you start getting into the communication mode, seeing your passion, it is more likely that locals might volunteer with some valuable language lessons. Though your hold on the new language may not be anything to speak about, it can have a positive bearing on prospective employers.

•  Mingle with fellow students from other cultures 

Once you have necessary vocabulary in your possession, it is time to make the most out of it.  Mingle with people from other cultures; there cannot be a better place than your university to start this. As your campus will have students from different parts of the world with different language, culture, etc, this is the most conducive environment to help develop cross-cultural skills that are highly valued by international employers.

• Take up new responsibilities

This is the right time to prove your worth in the eyes of future employers, these roles however small it might be, can project you as an individual who have the drive and initiative taking capacity. Make use of every small opportunity to showcase your abilities, organizing a small event etc can work in your favor. Volunteering is the key, as this gives opportunity to exhibit your multifaceted skills in a totally different environment.  It wouldn’t be a bad idea to help out a professor as an intern or if that is not possible, volunteer to help a local student with his / her project work. By doing small things like this, you are building up valuable experience and at the same time,  stuffing your resume with experience that make employers interested in hiring you.

• Get to know the outside environment

Don’t limit your world to the four walls of your campus.  Get to know about the community that live outside, this can start from the campus itself. Befriending a couple of local students is the way to go about. when invited to any function, make it a point not miss them, similarly, don’t waste any opportunity to interact with the local population, something which will help you get a lot of valuable information about  the geography, core industries around, local customs, traditions etc, this apart from helping you, know about career opportunities, can come handy during interviews sessions. Your prospective employee would appreciate the rich mine of information you have about the surrounding.

• Venture out of your comfort zones

This is the best time to challenge yourself and bring out the latent power within you. Don’t miss out on any opportunities to explore the country, utilizing all modes of transports possible. Immerse in local food, cultural events etc and truly blend yourself in to the surrounding like a local, this apart from gifting some wonderful experiences will equip you gain valuable knowledge about various parts of the country, travel routes, facilities etc which can really project you as someone who gel well with the local environment with ease, a quality which foreign employers love to see in International students.

Opportunity to study abroad should not only be seen as any other study phase ,it presents the perfect avenue to lean valuable insights, experiences , cross cultural skills that is vital in turning you in to a global  professional,  so make the most out of it.

Need more information on best overseas education destination  that suits your profile?  contact Santa Monica study abroad Pvt. Ltd., the trusted overseas education facilitation with over 13 years of experience in the domain, facilitating admission to over 200 universities/institutions to 20 + countries across the world. Contact us on 0484-4140999.