Jan. 9, 2008

Faculty member to discuss pros and cons of studying abroad

Jeffrey Herlihy, assistant professor of modern languages at Morningside College, will present the pros and cons of studying abroad at 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 16, in the UPS Auditorium in Lincoln Center, 3627 Peters Ave.

The public is invited to the free event, which is sponsored by Morningside’s Academic and Cultural Arts Series (ACAS).

Herlihy will discuss practical concerns, such as how to select a university and how to find housing in another country, as well as academic issues that sometimes arise while studying abroad, from differences in teaching styles to differences in the class schedule. He will also talk about the process of learning and applying a second language, as well as ways in which living in a new culture can affect people – from their meals to their work schedules to their social lives.

“My talk will be based on my experiences as a graduate student in Spain,” Herlihy said. “Hopefully the lecture will give people an impetus to think about things outside the Midwest and the United States and to possibly take advantage of opportunities for travel and/or study abroad.”

Herlihy accepted a full-time position at Morningside College in the fall, returning after he served as a visiting instructor at the college in the fall of 2006. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Boston College and a master’s degree from La Universidad Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. He has completed the coursework for a doctorate from La Universidad Pompeu Fabra, and he is now working on his dissertation. Herlihy has spent a total of six years in Spanish-speaking countries since 1999.