Hi! I'm Brooke - a study abroad enthusiast sharing the inside scoop on all things study abroad. Welcome Inside Study Abroad!
The Back Story
I’m Brooke Roberts. In college, I majored in study abroad. Okay, not really. But with three undergraduate study abroad experiences under my belt, it sure felt like it was my major. With those experiences (and all the research I did as a result), I became a study abroad pro long before I ever got my first gig as a study abroad staffer.
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| Brooke in Paris, studying abroad Spring 2001 |
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| Brooke while working for www.CISabroad.com |
But with a hearty public library, that little town offered me a whole slew of adventures via books and my imagination. I was able to travel the world and live through the experiences of others from the comfort of a porch swing. With that inspiration in my back pocket, I eventually had my first brief encounter with international travel in high school with a two week tour of France and Spain, and I never looked back.
After sitting still in southeast Kansas for 18 years, I’ve spent the past 10+ years with ants in my pants moving around the world and across the US working in study abroad (for universities, for companies, for individual students, etc.). With adventures living/working/studying in Boston, Switzerland, France, London, Ohio, China, more Boston, around the world (literally), South Dakota (yes, South Dakota), and now Colorado, my story is full of triumphs, tribulations, good food, and amazing people. You can see all my professional experience on my LinkedIn profile.
Where I've Been
As with everything else, travel is relative. Compared to some people, I haven't even scratched the surface of international travel and exploration. But for others, my experience looks vast and unimaginable. Regardless, all of my international sojourns have been uniquely special and eye-opening for me. I've had considerable, culturally-rich experiences in each of the following countries (and no, airport stop overs don't count).
In order of appearance - 24 countries and counting:
*France *Spain *Switzerland *Italy *England *Scotland *Poland *Ireland *Germany *Canada *China *Japan *British Virgin Islands *Brazil *Namibia *South Africa *India *Malaysia *Vietnam *Costa Rica *Mexico *Belize *Philippines *Portugal
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| Philippines, October 2010 |
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| Belize, January 2009 |
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| Hong Kong, November 2008 |
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| Portugal, September 2011 |
Why I started this blog
Having become the “study abroad girl” to just about anyone I meet (I can’t help it; it’s a big part of my life and it tends to come up...a lot), I get frequent questions, emails, Facebook messages, texts, you name it, asking for advice about study abroad – How does it work? How did you afford it? Where should I even begin looking? Will it help me get a job? What university has the best study abroad programs? and many, many more. I started thinking that maybe all this study abroad info that lives in my head would be valuable to people on the interwebs asking the same questions.
It also seemed odd to me that there weren't many real people out there writing about study abroad - with a candid perspective and from every angle. Studying abroad isn't rocket science (don't believe me? just keep reading), but it can be a tough needle to thread sometimes for students, for parents, and for university study abroad staff. My goal is to offer a little smidge of valuable advice, fun fact, or insight to anyone who's interested. So, this is my attempt to make a valuable contribution to an experience and career that's meant so much to me. I invite you Inside Study Abroad.
Have a question?
Shoot me an email at brooke[at]insidestudyabroad.com
Hi! Great site! I currently live in Mexico and am a huge advocate of studying abroad. I studied abroad in 2007-2008 in Xalapa, Mexico and now I am living in Mexico City. I do not have a Master's Degree, but once day if I return to the States, working in Study Abroad would be amazing. I definitely could specialize in Mexico since I have been through a lot here! Great blog!
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and glad you like the site. :) Having international experience beyond just studying abroad is a definite plus when it comes to working in the field. You'll need to be able to highlight your knowledge and experience with implementing educational experiences abroad. That's the clincher. Good luck!
DeleteI am so glad i found your site! I also studied abroad for 3 semesters, in 3 different countries. I am now contemplating a career in the study abroad field.
ReplyDeleteThat's awesome! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Deletexo
Brooke
Hey Brooke,
ReplyDeleteLast summer I returned from working on the JET Program in Japan and have been fumbling around for a career. Right now I'm at a dead-end admin job (at least it's in a Japanese office in DC) and am trying to plan my next move. I've considered advising, especially because when I studied abroad in college I had an awesome advisor who I really admired, but breaking in seems like it can be daunting. Anyway, I just came across your website and am enjoying your advice and perspective. Keep up the good work!
-Paul
My advice is to concentrate on how you can make this current gig work for you in achieving an advising position. What additional responsibilities could you take on? What volunteer based work could you do on the weekends/evenings to get you the type of experience the field is looking for?
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
*Brooke
Hi Brooke,
ReplyDeleteI am writing to get your advice concerning pursuing an additional MA—yes, additional. I am eager to transition out of teaching and into study abroad/ international student advising at a college or university in the US or overseas. I have been involved in the Field of Education for nearly 14 years. First, some background information about me.
I already hold a Master’s degree in Foreign and Second Language Acquisition and a Bachelor’s degree in Spanish from major universities in Ohio. I participated in a study abroad program for one quarter in 1991 in Merida, Mexico and enjoyed my experience so much that I later returned to teach English in 1994 for roughly 6 months. So far, this sounds pretty pedestrian, I know.
Now, things get more interesting. Upon graduating with my MA, I immediately (and I mean the following day) embarked on a journey to the Middle East to begin my career as an international educator that has now spanned nearly 14 years. Yes, I have lived and worked in the Middle East for the past 14 years (granted I have returned to the US for extended vacations). I have assumed a variety of roles during my tenure here, from teacher to supervisor to curriculum writer. I have also acquired an adequate level of spoken colloquial Arabic.
Based on my experience and education, do I really need to pursue an MA in International Education to enter the Field of International Education (including entry-level posts)? I am currently enrolled in a NAFSA course entitled Introduction to F-1 Student Advising and plan to enroll in others if they are of value.
Many thanks for your time and all the best to you.
~Tom
Hi Tom! Thanks for writing. My short answer is no, you absolutely do not need a master's degree in international education. The credential you have is good enough (and very transferable, in my opinion). What you need to do now is focus on how your past experiences (personal and professional) are going to make you an excellent advisor (for study abroad or international students). Remember: Hiring managers want to know how you are going to rock the position. So you have to lay it out for them very clearly how your knowledge and experience is going to make their office, company, division better. The workshops through NAFSA are a great start! If you can, I also suggest trying to do some pro bona/volunteer work for the type of office/company you're interested in working for. That will help beef up your resume with very relevant experience. :) Hope that helps and good luck! Let me know how things work out!
ReplyDelete*Brooke
Thanks so much for your prompt response and advice, Brooke! I just hope my next entry here is to share with you my success on landing a position! All the best. ~Tom
DeleteNo problem!
DeleteBrooke,
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful site. I wanted to give you some background about myself in hopes that you could give me some advice:
I am a graduate of BYU-Hawaii's campus and have since been a Coordinator for International Relations in Japan where I was involved in middle school and cultural exchange programs, internpreting and planning activities to promote intercultural understanding. I got an MA in Japanese language and literature from the University of Colorado at Boulder and wrote reccommendations for undergraduate students applying for study abroad positions. I also taught Japanese to the undergraduates and participated in a complete language immersion program for two years. I am currently a part of the Teach for America program serving underprivilaged youth in Hawaii for another year.
I am starting to believe that my path in life is through international education and cultural coordinating, as this was my path personally. I want to know what you would recommend me to do from here? What positions would I be looking for to jump into this field? How much upward mobility/earning potential could I be looking at (I am a father of two, so I am the breadwinner)? Who should I be getting me resumes out to?
I would appreciate any advice you have for me. Please drop me a line at my personal email address if the blog is not an adequate venue to answer my questions.
Thank you!!
Ian Ferguson