6E Karen Choy Man Ling
In recent years, overseas study tours have become very popular among youngsters,
especially senior-form students. As a S.6 student, I have been asked this question many
times: What do you think about overseas study programmes? In fact, there are some
problems of joining overseas programmes although there are much more benefits. Both
the advantages and disadvantages will be illustrated in the following paragraphs.
First, joining overseas study tours can help broaden students’ horizons and provide a
chance for them to learn how to be more receptive to different values and cultures.
During a trip, students can go sightseeing and visit different cultural heritages. They can
learn the history of other countries and the cultural differences between Hong Kong and
other places, say by comparing the styles of their buildings. Take Singapore as an example,
the facilities in Singapore are more environmentally-friendly compared with those in Hong
Kong. We can notice this feature if we go on a study tour there. Moreover, overseas study
tours provide opportunities for students to see ‘new’ things. In foreign countries like
Australia and America, there are usually more species of wild animals and more
advanced development of technology. This is an eye-opening experience for exchange
students to be in contact with all these. More importantly, students can have the chance
to meet people from different parts of the globe, which means they will become more
open-minded and can learn to embrace different customs and values. By joining activities
with the locals and communicating with foreign people, exchange students can learn a
lot about others’ worlds and perspectives. In a way, overseas study tours can train students
to become more accommodating.
Second, this kind of tours can also provide students with wonderful opportunities to
experience learning in different environments. More and more Hong Kong students decide
to study abroad after graduating from the secondary school. Therefore, overseas study
tours make it possible that they can have a taste of what it is like to learn in a foreign
setting. They can experience new, diversified teaching and learning styles while taking
part in school visits. The atmosphere in a classroom in a foreign country, like America or
Germany, can be very different from that of a Chinese classroom. Exchange students can
have some hands-on learning experiences by actually having lessons with the locals. In this
way, they can make a wiser decision about whether to further their studies abroad.
Third, overseas study programmes can help students improve their English. As English is
an international language, all the students in Hong Kong have to acquire this useful
language. If they are proficient in English, they can communicate with foreign people and
hence can make more friends and widen their horizons. Before joining the exchange
programmes, students need to research lots of basic information of their destinations and
most of the information is written in English. When they have to look for information about
the countries they are heading for, they need to speak, listen to, read and write in English.
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Certainly, during their stay in the foreign countries, given the abundant chances of
chatting with foreigners, they can learn to express their thoughts in English. Being exposed
to such a language-rich environment, they can definitely brush up their English.
Although there are many advantages for students to join these exchange
programmes, there are some disadvantages. For instance, some parents may not have
the ability to pay for the fees. If we decide to join a study tour, we should pay for the plane
tickets, accommodation and all sorts of daily expenses. So, it is expensive to join a study
tour and not every family can afford it. Besides, some students may not be able to adapt
to ‘living’ in an unfamiliar place. They may not be able to get used to the local food and
drinks. Every country is characterized by certain distinctive eating cultures. For example,
Indians love spicy food. Exchange students from Hong Kong may find it difficult to adapt.
As there are both positive and negative impacts of joining overseas study tours, some
people may wonder whether it is worth it to take part in these tours. I have the experience
of joining a study tour to Singapore. I deeply believe that the advantages can outweigh
the disadvantages. We can actually learn a lot from an overseas excursion. Take myself as
an example. I have become more confident in using English and communicating with
foreigners after the trip, which can help me to have better performances in the exams. I
believe that this experience can help me become more competitive in the workplace as I
am not afraid of talking with foreigners now, which is what many Hong Kong people are
not willing to do. In addition, it is a very precious experience for me to make friends who
come from different parts of the world, which has inspired me to develop an interest in
understanding more about different cultures.
In fact, the Hong Kong government and many organizations have offered lots of
sponsorship and financial support for the underprivileged students who are keen to have
an eye-opening experience but are not able to pay for the fees for the exchange
schemes. I would encourage these students to make the most of all the funding and
support available because it is such a fruitful experience to participate in a study tour.
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