Survey

Questioning Student attitudes
about studying abroad
Chance to win Itune Gift Card

Dear Students,

We are conducting a short survey to gather information about student attitudes about studying abroad.

Your answers will be anonymously tabulated so that we can help in the documentation of the trend of students in the United States that are attending study abroad programs.

The United States Senate released a list of why think US students should study abroad. "(see that list here http://www.vistawide.com/studyabroad/year_of_study_abroad2006.htm.)

We are trying to put together a more `realistic list of reasons'.

Thank you in advance for your time. Your participation will help.

If anyone wants to contact me about the Italy Program personally,
please email me or come up to me on campus.

Sincerely,

Dr. John Bowers
University Of Saint Francis
Program Coordinator
jbowers@stfrancis.edu

Please hit done when finished with the survey, thank you.

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Below is a list or possible answers that a student might have for not wanting to attend the Italy Study Abroad Program. Please choose any that you think might really be an influence to you in making that decision:

(You may choose multiple answers.)

• Because I'm afraid that the carbs in the pasta and pizza will put me over my weight goal.
• Because I don't know if I want to be away from my folks, car, dog, significant other.
  
  
• Because I'll miss the entire season of America's Best Dance Crew.
• Because I don't know where the money will come from..
• Because there is no McDonalds in Assisi, Italy (Note: Most of our time is spent in Florence and there is a McDonalds there.)
• Because I'll miss the snow. (Note actually, though somewhat rare, it does snow in the areas we will be traveling through.)
• Because I'm afraid all Italians will be like the cast of Jersey Shores - all "Guidos & Guidettes"
  
• Because I don't speak the language.
• Because I'll start having "Italian Dreams".
• Because I'll have another chance to travel after I finish school, get a job, start a family AND THEN win the lottery.
  
• Because I'm afraid of flying.
• Because I lack the motivation to do things unless there is an external pressure to get something done

Off the top of your head, are there any other reasons that may negatively influence your decision to go on the Study Abroad in Italy Trip?

please add any ideas below:

We have been told that these are some of the factors that students who go on the Study Abroad in Italy Program say influenced them. Please check any boxes that might influence you.

(You may choose multiple answers.)

• Because one of my dreams is to go to Europe.
• Because I can Skype with my family and Friends for free back home, it seems like your really not so far away from everyone, only you are. (Link to information about Skype> above.)
• To learn about St. Francis and the environment in which he lived.
• Shopping
• Great Art and Great Food and _________________________
• Just because of the opportunity to break from the routine, be somewhere different, escape the everyday predictability.
• To be immersed in another culture.
• Because the opportunity to travel weekends and breaks (inexpensively on Eurail) means I will be able to EXPLORE THE WORLD!! (Note this is a slight exaggeration - to see what countries you can travel to see the link to Eurail locations above))
• No one in my family has been out of the United States and I want to be the first.
  
• Because the opportunity is available, and it is reasonably priced - almost the same as living on campus here in the U.S. .
• To have real `Italian Dreams'  (see below for explanation)
• Because the opportunity to travel to Europe will become more difficult, and the possibility that I will ever have this much time to spend there ever again will diminish.

Off the top of your head, are there any other positive reasons that someone would want to go on the Study Abroad in Italy Program?

Have you ever considered studying abroad?

• 
  yes
• 
  no

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Please write name and email. Not Required.. Names will not be associated with survey answers.

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Link to information aboutSkype here: http://www.skype.com/

Link to the countries in Europe that Eurail goes to here : http://www.euraileurail-where-to-go


Link to the USF Study in Italy Blog here: http://usfitalyprogram. blogspot.com/

The meaning of the reference to `Italian Dreams' ="Renaissance poets and artist recorded and publicized dream,s as functions of the imaginative faculty. Poetic furor, the frenzied moment of divine inspiration comes through the mechanism of dreams". (Source: The Italian Renaissance imagery of inspiration: metaphors of sex, sleep, and dreams by Maria Ruvoldt, New York:Cambridge University Press, 2004)

Some say that dreaming in Italy gives one the chance to join the membership of that class of people who are prone to experience divine inspiration.

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