Writing development during study abroad

Social Network Development, Language Use, and Language Acquisition during Study Abroad: Arabic Language Learners’ Perspectives

Language learners and educators have subscribed to the belief that those who go abroad will have many opportunities to use the target language and will naturally become proficient. They also assume that language learners will develop relationships with native speakers allowing them to use the language and become more fluent, an assumption Pellegrino (Pellegrino, 1997, 1998) found to be held by ...

Social Capital and Language Acquisition during Study Abroad

We study the role of social capital in language acquisition during study abroad. Using data collected from 204 participants in Japanese study abroad programs, we show that students who leverage social capital through bridging relationships feel they achieve higher levels of language improvement. Furthermore, an analysis of the topics participants discuss with locals suggests that there are sign...

Development of Oral Communication Skills Abroad

This study examines the impact of a semester study abroad experience in Argentina on the second language acquisition of three American university Spanish learners. The goal is to measure development of two aspects of oral communication skills: fluency and performance in the oral functions of narration, and description and supporting an opinion. Research has shown that immersion in the target cu...

Analyzing the lived experiences of doctoral students' study opportunities abroad

Problem and purpose: Study opportunities or sabbaticals are still treasures for study and academic reflection. Research at Shiraz University has not concentrated on examining the flow and experiences of study opportunities related to doctoral students, one of the most influential people in producing knowledge. The purpose of this study was to analyze the lived experiences of doctoral students i...

Understanding Stem Majors’ Intent to Study Abroad