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Pang Shenglong is well aware of the fact that studying abroad might not be a good investment. After all, with the global recession still ongoing, job applicants with a foreign diploma have no edge over their domestically trained peers.
龐勝龍（音譯）心里很清楚，出國留學可能并非一項好的投資選擇。畢竟全球經濟仍在持續衰退，求職時，海外文憑同國內文憑相比，并無優勢可言。
But for those already studying abroad and who want to pursue a foreign education, the opportunity to expand their horizons outweighs any financial concerns. Experts say that studying abroad has become a less pragmatic decision in recent years, with students emphasizing their personal development rather than seeing it only as an “investment” in their employability.
但對于那些留學海外以及想要出國進修的學生們而言，開闊眼界所帶來的機會好處遠遠大過經濟上的風險。專家表示，近年來，留學的功利性正在下降，學生們更看重個人發展，而不再把留學視為一種提高職場競爭力的“投資”。
“Photos in textbooks can’t give you the feeling of standing under the Eiffel Tower,” said Pang, 24, a postgraduate majoring in civil engineering at the University of Nantes in France.
24歲的龐勝龍是來自法國南特大學土木工程系的研究生，他認為：“教材上的照片無法讓你體會親自站在埃菲爾鐵塔下的那種感覺。”
Apart from studying, living in a foreign country is more about seeing the world.
除了學習之外，異國生活還讓你有更多的機會看世界。
By traveling to Italy, Switzerland and Denmark during the holidays, Pang said he gained a deeper understanding of European culture.
龐勝龍說，通過去意大利、瑞士和丹麥旅行度假，他對于歐洲文化有了更深的了解。
“Studying abroad can be a life changing experience as you have to deal with everything in a completely new environment,” said Xie Shaoyuan, marketing director of Education International Cooperation Group.
啟德教育集團市場總監謝少淵（音譯）表示：“留學經歷可能會改變你的一生，因為你必須要學會在一個完全陌生的環境里應對一切。”
“By adapting to, communicating with, and understanding a different culture and people, students can renew their attitude toward studying and life, which has a lasting impact on their careers and personal lives,” Xie said.
謝少淵說：“通過適應不同的文化和民族環境，并與之相互交流和了解，，留學生們能夠收獲一種全新的學習、生活態度，這將對他們的職業生涯與個人生活影響深遠。”
Chen Zhe, 22, a senior majoring in finance at the University of Edinburgh, agreed. Chen’s experience of living in the UK and experiencing new cultures, traditions and people made him realize the significance of preserving his own cultural traditions and identity.
22歲的陳哲（音譯）是來自愛丁堡大學金融專業的大四學生，他對此表示贊同。生活在英國、接觸全新文化、習俗以及結交新朋友，這都令陳哲意識到了保有本民族文化傳統和身份的重要性。
“Before I left the cultural environment I was familiar with, I thought some of our holiday traditions were unnecessary,” said Chen. “But by being exposed to so many new traditions, I’ve begun to understand the significance of keeping our own traditions alive.”
他說：“在我離開熟悉的文化環境之前，我認為我們一些傳統節日有些多余，但在接觸了許多全新的文化習俗之后，我開始理解維護傳統文化的重要性。”
Besides traveling and integrating culturally, learning how to study is vital for Liu Chang, 25, a law student from Fudan University who is currently on an exchange year to George Washington University in the US.
來自復旦大學法律系、25歲的劉暢（音譯）現正在美國喬治敦大學參加為期一年的交換生項目。對于他而言，除了旅行和融入當地文化之外，學會如何學習也十分關鍵。
“Apart from what is taught in the classroom, I have also benefited from self-education,” said Liu.
劉暢表示：“除了課堂上學到的東西，我在自學過程中受益良多。”
Since China and the US use different teaching methods, each of which have their own advantages, it is important for students to make the most of their different learning environments and acquire a wide range of knowledge.
由于中美教學方式不同，各有長處；對于學生來說，充分利用不同的學習環境，廣泛涉獵知識，這點十分重要。
“I can learn by talking to my Mexican roommates about their country, or by talking about soccer with my British friends,” said Liu. “Studying abroad always offers me chances to learn something new.”
劉暢說：“無論是和墨西哥室友談論他們的國家，還是和英國朋友談論足球，我都能有所收獲。出國留學為我提供了一次學習新知識的機會。”
Xie thinks that in terms of the investment, studying abroad may not be as financially rewarding as it was a few years ago. But the connections and the new worldview developed through this unique experience will pay off eventually.
謝少淵認為從投資角度來說，留學可能并不像幾年前那樣，為你帶來經濟上的回報。但是這一獨特經歷所帶來的人脈以及全新世界觀終將令你收獲成功。
“Instead of direct financial benefits, the edge of having international experience and a new perspective on life is even more precious,” said Xie.
謝少淵說：“與直接的經濟利益相比，海外留學經歷以及全新的人生觀更為珍貴。”
