Communication Skills, Cultural Sensitivity, and Collaboration in an Experiential Language Village Simulation

This article discusses five college students’ experiences in a simulated fullimmersion, Arabic-speaking language village and the impact of that experience on learners’ beliefs about the power of collaborative learning, the critical importance of cultural awareness, the efficacy of learning languages within a functioning community of practice, and the utility of role play and experiential learning. The article also shares students’ insights into the value of both classroom and unstructured language learning opportunities and the contribution that such immersion scenarios can make as a stepping-stone into a full-immersion, long-term study abroad experience.