The Work & Travel Program – Means of Training and Integrating Youth for Adult Life Cover Image

The Work & Travel Program – Means of Training and Integrating Youth for Adult Life
The Work & Travel Program – Means of Training and Integrating Youth for Adult Life

Author(s): Gabriel-Mugurel Dragomir, Liliana-Luminița Todorescu, Iuliana Grazela Stroe
Subject(s): Social Sciences, Education, Higher Education
Published by: Editura Lumen, Asociatia Lumen
Keywords: Social integration; Work & Travel Program; personal development; professional integration;

Summary/Abstract: The hereby paper presents the de Romanians have while travelling to the USA through the Work & Travel Program and its personal and professional benefits. For this purpose we interviewed 145 students who participated in this program, in order to assess the following aspects: the advantages and disadvantages of the program, the issues young people faced while away and the added value of this experience. Approximately 70% of the interviewed students state that they signed up of the Work & Travel program in order to live the American Dream, being driven by curiosity and the desire to be financially independent, but also in order to perfect their English language skills. Among the advantages of the program, mentioned by over 50% of the respondents, we would like to mention the following: the experience they gained, developing their integration and socializing abilities in the new cultural, professional and social environment; the opportunity to travel and visit new places; and personal development. Regarding the disadvantages of the program, 70% of the students interviewed cannot see any weaknesses to it. The rest of the 30% are of the opinion that there are some disadvantages like the long distance from home, possible misunderstandings or disagreements with the employer and also certain health issues that might arise during the program. Among the above mentioned added value items to the program, we noticed the following in the respondents answers: the opportunity to get to know the American culture, to improve their English language skills, to travel and also to recover their initially made financial investment.

  • Issue Year: XI/2019
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 94-109
  • Page Count: 15
  • Language: English