International Student News - Issue 130, December 2009

holiday season

Issue 130 - December 2009

An InternationalStudent.com Publication

Welcome to the 130th International Student News! It was a very hard choice, but after sifting through all the video entries we received, our judges have determined our winners for the 2009 travel video contest. If you watched them, you know that we had terrific entries this year and we wish the best to everyone who entered. Wishing you all a fantastic holiday season! Ross Mason Editor, InternationalStudent.com Facebook \| Twitter \| Blogs \| Forum	In this issue: We have a winner! ISE Cards Learn English - BAE Student News From the Mailbag Fun Site of the Month Student Insurance Last Word
> We have a winner!
The 2009 travel video contest closed earlier this month amid a flurry of entries from all around the world. We continue to be delighted at the global reach this contest has developed with entries coming from Pakistan, the Phillipines, China and Thailand to name just a few! We eventually managed to whittle down all the entries to our top 40, and then our top 14 finalists who then were sent to our judging panel for them to choose the final winners! It was an extremely tough job this year but we are proud to announce the winners as: Hello 2 Ciao by Sandy Florez Danielle’s Story by Danielle Koehler The Study Abroad Show by Lindo Lindo Milkland by Xiaowen Zhu You will see more in the future from our winner, Sandy Florez, on the Study Abroad Blog, and Lindo Lindo will appear on our Study USA Blog. For an overview of this year's contest, and to see all the winning videos please check out our contest page: http://www.internationalstudent.com/contest/
> ISE Cards
ISE Cards offers international student identification cards, youth ID cards, and faculty/teacher ID cards to save you money when you are traveling or living abroad. To qualify for the international student card, you must be a student of at least 12 years of age and there is no upper age limit. The cards provide you with a wealth of benefits including: Internationally recognizable identification card Discounts around the world Medical Benefits Worldwide Travel Assistance Airline Bankruptcy Protection and much more..... Find out more information and get your ISE Card today: http://www.internationalstudent.com/travel/student-id-card/
> Learn English - Boston Academy of English
Boston Academy of English is committed to teaching English as a Second Language, Test Preparation, and the Certificate of Teaching English as a Foreign Language to foreign students from around the world and the US through small, high quality, interactive classes in a stimulating environment. Boston Academy of English wants you to not only learn English – we want you to live it! Experience American culture in the best city for international students in the world – Boston. Known as America’s “Walking City”, Boston is said to be the city where the best English in the country is spoken. True or not, the city’s charm is undeniable…from the Charles River to Quincy Market and the waterfront, its neighborhoods, cultural attractions, and sense of history will delight you. Opportunities for students of all ages to learn English are abundant here. http://www.internationalstudent.com/boston_english/
> Student News from Around the World
International Education Numbers at All-Time Highs International Students in the US up 8%; US Students Abroad up 8.5% While we celebrate International Education Week (IEW) with our annual travel video contest, the Institute of International Education (IIE) takes a slightly more serious approach to its IEW celebration. Each year during IEW, the IIE releases its Open Doors report showing numbers and data on international student enrollment in the US, and US students abroad. Building on gains in recent years, the number of international students in the US (2008/2009 school year) has grown 8% to a total of 671,616. India and China continue to send the most students to the USA, with no sign of letting up. 262,416 US students studied abroad in the 2007/2008 school year, an increase of 8.5% over the previous year, an all-time high and a number that has quadrupled over the past 20 years. Read more in the International Financial Aid Blog and the Open Doors report.
> From the Mailbag
This month we are featuring a post from our international financial aid forums, where we have a student posting with questions about student loans based in Euros: "Hi, I am an American citizen who will be studying at the University of Amsterdam beginning September 2010 as a graduate student. While I don't need an outrageous amount of loan money (since education is fairly affordable in Europe), I am going to require some. So, with the dollar as poor as it is, and with no upward swing in sight, is it possible to apply for a loan that can be paid out in Euros? I don't care if it is through the US or the Netherlands or somewhere else in Europe; anything to bypass this horrendous dollar is OK with me. I do have a cosigner (who lives in the US) and would probably need about 15,000 euros. Thanks for your help!" To post a response, please visit: http://www.internationalstudentforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=8528
> Fun Site of the Month
If you are a fan of social media, web tips and the latest breaking news for all things web 2.0 related - then you need to check out our fun site of the month, Mashable.com. Founded in July 2005 in a small town in northern Scotland, Mashable is the world's largest blog focused exclusively on Web 2.0 and Social Media news. With more than 12.5 million monthly pageviews, Mashable is the most prolific blog reviewing new Web sites and services, publishing breaking news on what's new on the web and offering social media resources and guides and much more. It's definitely worth checking out and is one of our top resources for all things web related!
> International Student Insurance
With 2010 right around the corner, and yet another new semester nearly upon us - now is the time to secure your insurance for the new year. Don't let your international insurance coverage be one of the things you leave to the last minute or forget about entirely and let the team at International Student Insurance help reduce your stress. The Student Secure plan from International Student Insurance provides coverage for students that includes benefits such as: up to $300,000 policy maximum Doctors Visits/ Prescription Medication Maternity/ Mental Health Coverage Evacuation/ Repatriation Coverage and much more.... The plan starts at just $42/ month for International Students in the USA and $33 for US Citizens who are studying abroad, with the ability to pay monthly - plus the plan meets almost all school's insurance requirements! For more information please see the Student Secure website at: http://www.internationalstudentinsurance.com/student-health-insurance/
> Last Word
We hope you enjoyed this month's newsletter, and best of luck to you as you pursue or help others pursue an international education! As always please contact us with any questions or comments you have about the newsletter - we love to hear from you!

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