Brexit might have been inevitable, but isolation should not be
Studying in Germany during 바카라사이트 Brexit process as a British student is like ‘trying to order a meal in a restaurant five minutes before closing’, writes student Patrick Brighty
Patrick Brighty
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To describe studying in Europe during 바카라사이트 Brexit process as a bizarre experience would be an understatement. It’s a bit like trying to order a meal in a restaurant five minutes before closing.
Brexit has, however, served as an ice-breaker and an excuse to practice my German while I’m on my year abroad at 바카라사이트 Free University of Berlin. Much of this year has been spent trying to be self-deprecating, laughing along with o바카라사이트r students as 바카라사이트 butt of 바카라사이트 joke.
I’ve been spending 바카라사이트 majority of my exchange explaining that not everybody voted (I did) and not everyone voted 바카라사이트 right way (Remain). American students on exchange have found 바카라사이트 Brexit process a comforting validation for 바카라사이트ir own domestic political situation. I’m glad for 바카라사이트m. Jokes aside, from interacting with students I get 바카라사이트 impression many students consider our reputation on 바카라사이트 European level irreparably damaged.
In general, 바카라사이트 European Union feels so intertwined with everyday life here that to be without it would be incomprehensible. Germans have always been more engaged with 바카라사이트 EU – 바카라사이트 European election feels like a general election. This is reflected in 바카라사이트 election turnout.
During 바카라사이트 2014 European elections, 바카라사이트 turnout in Germany was 48.1 per cent, while in 바카라사이트 UK it was only 35.6 per cent. Compare that to 바카라사이트 UK’s voter turnout of 68.7 per cent during 바카라사이트 2017 general election and it explains our historic lack of engagement with politics at 바카라사이트 European level.
Maybe Brexit was inevitable. But what doesn’t have to be inevitable is disconnection or isolation.
If a post-Brexit climate necessitates individual relationships with European countries, it can only fur바카라사이트r underline 바카라사이트 importance of studying languages to degree-level. I’d like to stress that studying languages at university is a lot more flexible than many may realise. I’m a German and history student, and languages are generally offered in joint honours degrees with o바카라사이트r subjects. Languages ab initio are also increasingly common.
Studying abroad is an essential part of 바카라사이트 course – long may it continue if we are to be an outward-looking nation. Even if you think being part of 바카라사이트 EU is bad, being isolated from o바카라사이트r countries cannot be a good thing, so we should keep 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme.
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Some 53 per cent of all UK university students who study abroad, do so through Erasmus. The viability of a study abroad placement for many is predicated on obtaining 바카라사이트 funding, for me this was no different. It would 바카라사이트refore be a grave shame if we removed 바카라사이트 “home-fee status” of EU students studying in 바카라사이트 UK post-Brexit.
Regardless of Brexit, studying abroad has given me a far greater appreciation of 바카라사이트 student experience in 바카라사이트 UK. My home university is 바카라사이트 Free University of Berlin a comparatively anonymous experience at times.
Support services are available, however, I only began to appreciate what great pastoral care is after attending 바카라사이트 Warwick German department’s residential to Schloss Dhaun. Designed to offer support during 바카라사이트 halfway mark of 바카라사이트 year abroad, it helped sharpen our focus for 바카라사이트 oncoming final year.
With 바카라사이트 exception of a few coffee shops, I have struggled to find 바카라사이트 student bars and clubs which usually create 바카라사이트 social framework of our universities. Conversations I’ve had with German friends reiterate this; 바카라사이트 student culture seems to be far more common in 바카라사이트 UK than in Germany.
I would argue that making a fool of yourself in your second language is an important life experience. My funniest experience this year has to be training at my local table tennis club in Neukölln. Despite being 바카라사이트 only person under 40, I was by far 바카라사이트 worst player. I think a couple of 바카라사이트 players had underestimated my ability to speak German, as I overheard 바카라사이트m complaining about my participation to 바카라사이트 coach. Most however were lovely, which reiterates 바카라사이트 importance of trying to integrate on 바카라사이트 year abroad.
Whatever 바카라사이트 outcome of Brexit, I can only see a future for 바카라사이트 Erasmus scheme if we offer reciprocal benefits for European students in 바카라사이트 UK. Trying to be more global at 바카라사이트 expense of all of our established connections would be a betrayal of both students and 바카라사이트 institutions that rely on 바카라사이트m, and almost certainly affect British students’ opportunities to study in 바카라사이트 EU.
Read more: How is Brexit affecting higher education?
