A Retrospective Inquiry into the Impact of COVID-19 on Students’ Study Abroad Program
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36366/frontiers.v37i3.835Keywords:
Experiential learning, international travel, pandemic, poetic analysis, reflectionAbstract
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization announced COVID-19 as a global pandemic. Millions of students in school, on educational breaks, and study abroad programs were left uncertain of their next steps. This study aimed to examine the impact of COVID-19 on college-aged students’ study abroad experiences in the United Kingdom. Four students participated in interviews, asking them about their study abroad. Thematic and poetic analysis were used to analyze the data, and five themes emerged from the former: (1) thoughts before travel, (2) teaching abroad, (3) traveling abroad, (4) quarantine, and (5) the total experience. Based on the analysis, we recommend that professors consider incorporating reflection activities into study abroad programs and that professors and students alike take time to learn about the culture beforehand. Future research should consider examining how COVID-19 impacted individuals’, communities’, and universities’ views of travel abroad.
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