How a semester abroad has helped Sophie decide on her future career

University of Derby student Sophie Garbett knew that she wanted to experience studying abroad as soon as she heard about it in her first few weeks on campus.

As well as building new friendships, gaining more confidence and learning a new language, going on a semester abroad also gave Sophie clarity of what to do next when she graduates.

Sophie, an Education Studies BA (Hons) student, said: “I’ve decided that want to go and teach English in different countries. I just love seeing the happiness on the kids’ faces when they’re learning new English words.”

And she has some exciting plans for the future.

“Since I put on my CV that I’ve studied abroad, I’ve had lots of people asking me to go and teach English in different countries,” she said. “It’s helped me to figure out the next couple of years at least.”

Sophie's semester abroad

After finding out more about studying abroad from the University's dedicated Goplaces team, Sophie applied and was successful in securing a place on a semester abroad at Saxion University in Enschede.

“I've always wanted to go and study abroad and then I had the opportunity, and I thought – “why not?” For my entire first year I kept thinking “I want to go now!”.

After arriving in the Netherlands, settling into her new temporary home and meeting her new classmates, Sophie was launched straight into university life.

“Once a week we went to different schools to visit them, see what they were like and help with teaching. For me it was difficult compared to everyone else as the children were just learning English, so I had to have someone Dutch with me as a translator.”

She taught children from as young as four up to 13 and gained new teaching techniques to support what she had learned in her degree.

“The second half of the semester was just teaching every single day, so I taught for three months straight.”

Sophie’s experience has also helped her to build on her core transferable skills which will help her with any role or career she chooses in the future.

“I was not very confident in myself in general and I thought maybe this is what I need to figure out how confident I am. And it did work. I feel a lot more confident especially with uni-based work. In the first year I was the quiet one who didn’t really speak, but that’s just because I didn’t have the confidence to speak to people. But with studying abroad, you have to go and speak to people to make friends because they’re in the same position as you. They’re scared and worried about how good their English is. So sometimes you have to push yourself. That’s what I hoped to gain from it and I think I have gained it.”

Learning a new language

Sophie was advised to learn some Dutch before she travelled out to the Netherlands to help her communicate with others and with her teaching. It’s resulted in an additional skill to add to her CV to set her apart when she graduates.

“In the Netherlands they have different phrases for one word so everyone taught me all the different ones. I've kind of gained a second language because I’m continuing to learn it. I think it’ll be nice to carry on as it’s not that hard to learn.”

She also has an insight into the differences in culture between England and the Netherlands. As well as discovering that the country loves cheese at every meal and always say ‘cheers’ to each other when they have a drink, Sophie learned that everyone in her class owned a pet cow.

“I remember trying to explain what a Wetherspoons was as I was like this is a staple of the UK, and we ended up having a 20-minute conversation about it. And then they were all like “we just thought you ate fish and chips!”."

Making new friends

Sophie came away from her experience with more than job opportunities. She met new people and formed lasting friendships.

“I think studying abroad really helps if you want to have new experiences and gain more friends. I had a few friends before I went to the Netherlands but now I have a wider circle of friends and that’s nice to have, especially when you get a different view on the world from different cultures.”

Despite only knowing her new friends for six months, Sophie says they are all very close now.

“We talk to each other every day and we keep each other up to date with our lives. I’ve been invited to a friend’s wedding which I’m going to have to fly to a different country for. Then I’m going to Milan to go visit one of my friends in a couple of months and then in December, I’m off to Iceland to go see another friend.”

Making the right choice

Reflecting on her time studying abroad, Sophie has some advice for anyone else thinking of taking up the opportunity.

“One of the biggest challenges for me was struggling with not being with my family and leaving people. But after a couple of days, you get used to it and you make friends. I was worried but you don’t need to be at all.”