Changing the World and Transforming Yourself: Enhancing Service Learning and Study Abroad Experiences - Paperback

Changing the World and Transforming Yourself: Enhancing Service Learning and Study Abroad Experiences prepares students before they fly.

Jeffrey Kottler is not interested in packing lists. His subject is what the months abroad do to the person who went, and how much of that is still there a year after coming home.

How it works

The arc runs from preparation through the experience itself to reintegration, the part most programmes skip. Reflection is treated as the mechanism, not the afterthought.

What's inside

It suits volunteer projects and global service learning as much as a semester abroad, and institutions running those programmes use it as a shared text.

From the publisher

Changing the World and Transforming Yourself: Enhancing Service Learning and Study Abroad Experiences is designed to enrich the academic and personal experiences of students participating in international programs and settings. Written to extend beyond conventional travel advice, the book explores psychological concepts and approaches that foster profound personal growth. It emphasizes not only preparations for such experiences but also the unique opportunities related to living, studying, and working in foreign cultures.

The book provides practical insights into the active process of learning during travel, promotes self-reflection, and highlights the importance of internalizing meaningful experiences. It covers an array of subjects, from preparation to reintegration, emphasizing the lasting impact programs can have on a student's sense of self and future directions, including adaptability to new environments, resilience amidst challenges, and the cultivation of a broadened perspective.

With its sage guidance and emphasis on personal development through travel, this book is ideal for any student pursuing study abroad semesters, volunteer projects, or global service learning initiatives. It is also an excellent resource for institutions that support and sponsor experiential learning programs through travel and study abroad.