The Bridge INTELLECTUAL RESULT IO 16 (8) | Page 33

Exchange students have an edge over those who do not take part in these mobilities.
They are more curious, more self-confident and have greater decision-making skills.
These students will be more successful in the labor market and, moreover, will be more
able to identify themselves as European citizens rather than those who have never
been able to take part in this experience.
Moreover, these projects are an instrument of modernity capable of making us take a
huge step forward towards a future of peace. The people who decide to take part into
this experience try to look at the world from another perspective, not only from the one
transmitted by the family or school. Greater mental elasticity is acquired, as one comes
into contact with different lifestyles and thoughts.
Mobility is sort of challenge for everybody, that brings changes and helps to improve
in the linguistic, cultural, social and above all personal field. The change is constantly
knocking at our door and we must always be ready to welcome it without fear.
Accepting changes means being prepared to take the risk. The outcome of the
challenge depends entirely on one's own desire to make it, when something is ardently
desired, one will always find the way to achieve it.
To conclude we can say that the process of school internationalization is fundamental
for students: it helps to overcome stereotypes and prejudices, making students aware
of the cultural differences but also aware of how much in common we have with people
from very far countries. And we all learn to understand and accept what or who is
different from us.
3.9 What are the benefits of learning modern foreign languages?
Iannotti Nicole, Ciervo Giada, Ermelinda Martino – Italy
"The limits of your language are the limits of your world", the Austrian philosopher
Ludwig Wittgenstein affirmed, highlighting how the language we use influences and
profoundly alters the way we think. Being able to speak a foreign language means
opening up one's cultural horizons to a greater knowledge. If people couldn’t speak
any foreign languages, they would remain closed within their country borders without
33