6 Meaningful Online Cultural Activities for Students
Pandemification got you down? Even with the rise of vaccinations, travel restrictions are likely to continue for some time to come. However, just because you might be completely grounded at the moment doesn’t mean that you have to forego dreams of developing and flexing your Cultural IQ.
If the current global pandemic has taught us anything, it’s that global is local and that local is global. The pandemic has taught us that the world is small and that we are all interconnected and interrelated in the web of life. Opportunities for cross-cultural connection, learning, and exploration are more important than ever and just because traditional immersive experiences abroad aren’t a possibility at the moment doesn’t mean that you have to altogether forego the opportunity to develop an international mindset.
In fact, one of the social effects of the pandemic has been that just about everything has gone virtual. Via virtual international education programs, there are plenty of opportunities to have an international experience and connect yourself to culture—and the larger world around you—with just a few clicks.
READ MORE: 11 Convincing Reasons to Study Abroad Online
Is online study abroad and other programs worth it?
Now, you may be asking yourself, “Is it even worth doing online programs?”, but as you will see, online programs offer an innovative and accessible platform that can profoundly expand your horizons. In fact, online programs offer participants the flexibility to experience the world in their own time and interact with others from communities abroad from the comfort of their own computer.
There are a lot of benefits to participating in virtual programs that connect you to culture online. Some of these benefits include making new friends, using the experience to positively bolster resumes and college applications, and potentially volunteering in order to fulfill service hour requirements.
A more nuanced benefit of participating in virtual international programs is that you’ll be improving your understanding of another culture and developing the critical thinking skills needed to understand both the beauties and challenges that face various cultures and populations.
Developing a global mindset gives you the ability to identify and experience the interconnectedness and interdependency of different countries and populations. This enables one to develop an awareness of one’s own personal reactions to those from different cultures (personal biases, beliefs, attitudes), which will allow you to act effectively and responsibly at local, national and global levels for a more peaceful, just, and equitable world.
6 best online cultural activities for students
1. Language immersion
Ready to put yourself in an environment where you can test and improve your linguistic skills? Language practice with native speakers is a great opportunity to share and learn while gaining a marketable skill for the workplace. This kind of cultural connection enables you to interact with others from communities abroad from the comfort of your own computer.
New to foreign language studies? There’s never a better time than the present to get started and prepare yourself, linguistically-speaking, to explore the world!
2. Virtual culture tours and authentic experiences
“Experience” is the key word here and no travel is necessary! Whether it’s participating in a virtual interpretive tour at the Louvre in France, or participating in an interactive virtual tour of an animal refuge center in Costa Rica, opportunities abound to experience people and places as far flung as researchers in Antarctica or the villagers in Timbuktu.
In addition, these experiences give you real-time interaction and provide you with the international exposure necessary to become a global citizen. Programs like these can give you a chance to learn about everything from ancient Greek monuments during a virtual lecture in Athens to a real time behind-the-scenes Q and A session with the cast of a theater production.
As you can see, there’s many types of online programs that easily connect you to culture and expand your horizons right from the comfort of your own computer.
3. Food and dance demonstrations
Salsa, anyone? Food and dance are cultural staples that don’t require a plane ticket in order to get involved and participate. Imagine opportunities such as a virtual cooking class arranged with a group of local women in Oaxaca to learn the secrets of an excellent mole recipe, or learning how to to move your body to the rhythmic sway of samba from a dance instructor in Cuba.
Fun experiences with food, dance, and art are the very foundations of our shared common humanity. Now, with technology, we can have these opportunities for cultural connection and experience at our fingertips.
4. Service initiatives
English language tutoring and conversational practice make for ideal service projects that can be implemented from afar. English remains the language of business and tourism in many countries, and having English language skills can open up access to better job opportunities for many in the developing world.
Some online programs offer opportunities for you to help out by becoming a receptive and enthusiastic English language conversation partner. These sorts of one-on-one or group led activities have the potential to give your mentees the confidence needed to progress in their understanding and comprehension of a new skill or language.
These types of experiences are guaranteed to connect you to culture in a meaningful and authentic way as you gain an international perspective and give back on a global scale.
5. Education
Keep your mind active and engaged! Travel is educational and, with online programs, you can keep your mind engaged and connect to culture while you receive formal credit for your cultural pursuits.
Some online study abroad programs offer formal educational components and the opportunity for global education. In addition to making new friends, participants can use these types of cultural and educational experiences to bolster resumes and college applications.
6. FUN
A smile is said to be the universal symbol of happiness and nothing brings about smiles like some shared amusement. Fun can break down difficult cultural and linguistic barriers. When virtual program experiences incorporate fun, fostering cultural connections becomes effortless.
Some of the most beneficial cross-cultural experiences are to be found while playing a game or participating in other opportunities for cultural sharing with a member of another community. With technology, everything from puzzles to video games can be shared virtually.
Take the next step! Get matched with 5 online study abroad programs for FREE
You won’t be skimping on immersion with online programs!
As you can see from above, travel isn’t really a necessary component in becoming a culturally competent global citizen. With orders to stay at home still lingering in many parts of the world, many established travel and education providers have successfully transitioned to alternative, virtual programming, leveraging their valuable international connections and access to the latest technological resources in order to continue to offer these life-changing programs for cultural enrichment.
Technology has made access to cultural experiences more equitable and accessible—so don’t miss out on opportunities for cultural connection. You won’t be skimping on immersion with online programs, so why wait when the opportunities for cultural exploration and growth are just a few clicks away!
Explore ALL online study abroad programs on GoAbroad.com
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qLvAm6momZRjsLC5jpqpraGTobK0e8eormaumafBtq3LZqerp5enrq6%2FjJymp6aVmMFuxc6uZK2nXZjCrcDUq5w%3D