A Writing Sample
Studying Abroad
Studying abroad is an enriching experience for everyone who chooses to spend a major overseas, but for the students in the Language, Culture, and Trade major, studying abroad is a requirement that each of the students look forward to.
The newest major at SEU, Language Culture and Trade is a highly unique degree that allows students to take their learning experience global. “It’s a unique major that equips you to interact with the world as it’s becoming smaller and more globalized,” says junior Emma Stravers. This major is for students who wish to work internationally, teach English in other countries, work in missions, or other global opportunities.
Besides having a studying abroad requirement, this major is highly unique because it’s customizable. You can choose a professional focus to study along with LCT, which will commonly be English, law, business, or graphic design. The professors just search to teach skills that are transferable internationally. Along with a professional focus, students must also become in at least one language other than English before graduating. You could even learn languages outside of SEU to count towards this major, as some students will learn languages that aren’t offered on campus. Junior Austin Schrock is learning Spanish and ASL and says that being able to customize his major is one of his favorite parts of the major.
Though this major is very interesting, it has its struggles. This degree was launched just before COVID hit, and travel has been highly restricted to many countries, so the studying abroad requirement needing a little help. Emma Stravers, who hopes to teach English in other countries, has traveled to Ecuador since their travel restrictions weren’t as strict, where she worked for a bamboo company, and plans to go to Bosnia next spring if COVID allows in order to teach English to Chinese speakers. Austin Schrock’s plans to study abroad had been changed due to COVID, but he plans to participate in an internship in Nashville over the summer that’ll count as studying abroad. These students have also learned to speak other languages in Zoom classes, have persevered through the chaos of COVID, and are still seeking to work internationally.
Dr. Annette Graves, the coordinator of this program, says that if there’s one thing COVID has proven in these last two years, it’s that having a global outlook is very important, and that’s just what these students in the LCT major are doing. “What happens in one country will affect other nations,” Dr. Graves says.
This major may be facing its struggles, but its students have proven to be resilient, and the Language, Culture, and Trade major is growing. If taking your future career international is something that interests you, you may want to consider taking classes under this degree, it’s certain to give you exciting and thrilling life experiences.