Does study abroad work?

• Do people’s FL skills improve when they go abroad?• Read this and you tell me:

• Why do only 65% of study abroad students improve?

Why not????

• Culture, i.e. lack of cultural sensitivityMartinsen, Van deBerg et. al., Wilkinson

• Time on task, class in TL, Host family, Van deBerg et. al., Wilkinson

• Self identity, threatened or strengthenedPelegrino and Aveni

• Classroom interaction patternsWilkinson

• Social NetworksIsabelli

Martinsen, WilkinsonPelegrino and AveniIsabelli

• Van deBerg et al. say….• Time on task, i.e. longer programs better, time

with host family, classes in TL• Culture knowledge pre program• Gender, Girls do a bit better

Martinsen - Methodology/Design

• Quantitative – Measuring Gains• Non-experimental• Gains, Relationships, Prediction

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Methodology/Participants

• 45 university students• Spent six weeks in Argentina• Stayed with Argentine host families• Took approximately 6 credits

Methodology/Instruments

• Pre and Post test of Oral Language Skills:

1. Two tasks from Texas Oral Proficiency Test2. Students’ responses recorded3. Rated by native speakers using the following rubric:

Methodology/Instruments cont.-Oral Language Skills Rubric

Methodology/Instruments

• Pre-test – Post test of:

• Motivational intensityQuestionnaire based on Gardner (1985)

• Cultural SensitivityInventory of Cross-Cultural SensitivityCushner (1986)

Results – Oral Skills

• Overall, small yet significant improvement-wide variety of outcomes

• +.31 average gain Pre-mean 2.47 Post-mean 2.77 p<.0001

• Some students decreased-regression to the mean

Results – Oral Skills

Results – Cultural Sensitivity

• Overall, small yet significant improvement-wide variety of outcomes

• +5.2 average gainPre-mean 166.91 Post-mean 171.24 p<.0001

• 14 students’ Cultural Sensitivity decreased -regression to the mean

Results – Cultural Sensitivity

Results – Motivation

• Overall, small yet significant improvement-wide variety of outcomes

• +1.2 average gainPre-mean 29.31 Post-mean 30.47 p=.017

• 13 students’ motivation decreased -regression to the mean

Gains in Motivation

Discussion

• Individual variation in outcomes-Pattern in study abroad research

• Why no improvement for some?-In Language Skills, backsliding-Cultural Sensitivity, U-shaped adjustment-Motivation, reach goals, Where next?

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Discussion

• Short-term programs have impact-Students can improve lang. skills-Cultural Sensitivity does improve -Better than no experience abroad-Good option for those with limited time for SA

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Implications for Practice

• Teaching: Involve students in reflective interaction with culture of target language speakers (service learning, study buddy)

• Study Abroad: Prepare students for cultural differences Aid in processing cultural experiences(Journaling, Discussion, Check in with faculty etc.)

Provide students with formal opportunities for ongoing interactions, such as community service, internships, clubs etc.

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L2 Leila…

and other sad study abroad songs

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Will the real me stand up?

• Write down 4 sentences describing yourself.• I always try to understand people.• I always look on the bright side.• I’m soooooo stinkin’ smart I can’t stand it.• Now how did people perceive you in your

second language when you first went abroad.

Will the real me stand up?

• Leila in English

• Leila in Russian

• What is the difference between the ideal self and the “real” self?

Will the real me stand up?

• What four factors affect self-construction in L2 learners?

• Sense of status – • When threatened self image is weakened.• Control over interaction –• Lack of validation –• Safety is in jeopardy –

Extrinsic v. Intrinsic sense of self

• What’s the difference?• Curious cases of Rebeccah, p. 102-103 and

Reanna p. 105

How do people change their self image in the L2?

• Improve L2 skills

• Realize Mistakes are OK

• Strategies

Strategies

• Self talk• Interaction Preparation• --Think about vocab etc. before conversation• Minimizing own knowledge• Fake that you don’t know• Choose comfortable environments• Are these good or bad? Which ones? Why?

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Discussion

• With the findings of this study in mind,• If you were planning study abroad what

activities or experiences would you create?• Similarly, as a program director, how will you

approach study abroad differently now that you have read this article?

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Wilkinson

• Critical incident abroad, culture learning

• What does this experience teach us about LANGUAGE learning abroad?

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Isabelli

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