---
title: Study abroad... virtually!
description: Now that all study abroad trips have been cancelled, what can replace that world experience for students? How about a virtual study abroad trip?
image: https://www.octb.us/hubfs/Background.png
---

[![Overcome the Barrier](https://www.octb.us/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-blue.png?width=2839&height=439&name=logo-blue.png "Overcome the Barrier")](https://www.octb.us)

- [Default HubSpot Blog](https://www.octb.us/default-blog)

# Study abroad... virtually!

Jun 4, 2020, 2:10:05 PM [by Karina Fortier](https://www.octb.us/blogg/author/karina-fortier)

[Share this blog post on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post&url=https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/with-octb-the-world-comes-to-my-students) [Share this blog post on Facebook](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/with-octb-the-world-comes-to-my-students) [Share this blog post on LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.octb.us/blogg/post/with-octb-the-world-comes-to-my-students)

![](https://www.octb.us/hubfs/Background.png)

Study Abroad Trips Cancelled<https://www.octb.us/hubfs/OvercomeTheBarrier_May2020/Images/7011c7318dda018e9b2ed52f4be90f63.jpg>

For high school students studying a foreign language, the highlight of the year is often the study abroad trip to a country where that language is spoken.  It's very unfortunate that nearly all these trips were cancelled because of coronavirus, and will certainly not resume until 2021. 

So what can replace these study abroad trips? 

## Virtual student exchanges

<iframe class="hs-responsive-embed-iframe" style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" xml="lang" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/unceRoCq-qU" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen data-service="youtube" data-mce-style="position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; width: 100%; height: 100%; border: none;" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe>

 

Nothing will replace a study abroad trip, but the closest thing that comes to it is the OCTB virtual exchange program, that pairs up high school students worldwide for online language and cultural exchanges.

 

With [OCTB](https://www.octb.us/schools), ''**the world comes to my students**'', explains Carmen Wirtz, the academic coordinator at Antigua International School in Guatemala, which was paired up with Fishburne Military School (FMS) for virtual language exchanges between English and Spanish.

Cpt. Raycraft, the Spanish teacher at FMS,  agrees: ''The OCTB language exchange is very similar to the study abroad experience: in both cases, the students have to sort through all the Spanish they have in their head, and put it all together''.

## The virtual trend in K12 education

Education in K12 is increasingly taking on a virtual trend. There are pros and cons to this transformation, and very much uncertainty indeed.

For how long will remote classes continue?

Are schools and teachers prepared for a permanent trend towards E-Learning?

How will student performance be affected in the short and long term by this transformation?

No one has clear answers to these questions. But one thing is certain : OCTB virtual language exchanges will not only enhance students' foreign language skills, but also expose them to world cultures by connecting them with peers abroad who lead an entirely different life.

![Logo square 1024-3](https://www.octb.us/hs-fs/hubfs/Logo%20square%201024-3.png?width=100&name=Logo%20square%201024-3.png)

 

 [Find out more about the OCTB language exchange program](https://www.octb.us/schools)

##### Karina Fortier

### Leave a Comment

[![Overcome the Barrier](https://www.octb.us/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-blue.png?width=2839&height=439&name=logo-blue.png "Overcome the Barrier")](https://www.octb.us)

- Studio
- Schedule
- Classes
- Membership

Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram

31 Woodrow Drive | Ames, NY 98910

103.892.1002

info@vitalitystudios.com

 Copyright © 2026 Overcome the Barrier, INC. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy. Terms and Conditions.