scholarly journals A Strategies-Based Approach to Culture and Language Learning in Education Abroad Programming

2008 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 89-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph G. Hoff ◽  
R. Michael Paige

This article presents a study designed to evaluate available training materials, in terms of their value to study abroad professionals, focused on culture and language learning strategies for study abroad program professionals who prepared study abroad participants. In addition, the study intended to provide the international education field with ideas for language and culture teaching, and ultimately the enhancement of language and culture learning in and out of class during the study abroad sojourn.

Author(s):  
Kaishan Kong

Both ACTFL standards and the world-readiness standards for learning languages include five aspects in foreign language education, among which are connections and comparisons. While many instructors consider these two aspects as means of effective instruction, in this chapter, connections and comparisons are studied as learning strategies that four American students adopted to apply in their study abroad contexts in China. Despite the different focus of their study abroad programs, this chapter discusses a variety of examples where the participants made connections and comparisons to enhance their language and culture learning. Findings reveal that connections and comparisons were not only fostering language learning but also developing cultural knowledge. Results provide implications to foreign language educators related to teaching and preparing students for study abroad experience.


2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 253-276 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Michael Paige ◽  
Andrew D. Cohen ◽  
Rachel L. Shively

The purpose of this study was to explore the impact of the study abroad experience, in general, and the impact of a curriculum intervention, in particular, on students’ intercultural development, second language acquisition, and employment of learning strategies related to language and culture. Cohen and Paige – two of the authors of this article – were the senior authors of a three-volume set of guidebooks, the Maximizing Study Abroad Guides which were intended to enhance overseas students’ language and culture learning through a strategies-based approach. By utilizing a scientifically rigorous set of research procedures, we sought to ascertain the impact and efficacy of the Students’ Guide  – one of the volumes in the series – as well as to test a set of hypotheses about the learning outcomes associated with study abroad.


Neofilolog ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 11-27
Author(s):  
Tomasz Róg

This article takes a step towards bridging the research gap between language-and-culture learning strategies and SLA-oriented outcomes of study abroad programmes. While studies concerning the impact of studying in foreign countries document various language-related benefits of the experience, only a handful addresses the types of language and culture learning strategies employed by study abroad participants. The present study tracks the use of these strategies by Polish students of English philology participating in a semester-long exchange programme in Portugal and Romania. It is revealed that although the use of language and culture learning strategies does not change significantly over the course of students’ stay abroad, the strategies chosen before their departure are used rather consistently.


2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lilli Engle ◽  
John Engle

The complexity of international education is such that it is far from easy to move towards significant, objectively measurable, and comparable outcomes. What follows is the preliminary examination of one attempt to generate and interpret meaningful statistical assessment of the study abroad experience, within the context of specifically defined study abroad program types. We will examine the data thus far generated, suggest its limitations, and appeal for a continued gathering of information. We will suggest a structured, coordinated, profession-wide assessment effort that will, we hope, gradually reveal a useful correlation between study abroad learning and the input of program variables such as duration, housing, experiential work and on-site mentoring. If, as a profession, study abroad is to invest in outcomes assessment, it would be sensible for such efforts to utilize profession-wide definitions and standards.


2015 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
pp. 3
Author(s):  
Adrian Leis

The goal of this paper is to gain a deeper understanding of whether a short study abroad program is effective in increasing its participants’ willingness to communicate in a second language. Using a questionnaire designed by Yashima (2002), a pre-post design study was used to examine a sample of 80 Japanese junior high school students who participated in a ten-day study abroad program to Sydney, Australia. The results indicate that although there were no statistically significant differences seen in the second language learning motivation of the students participating in the study abroad program, there were salient decreases observed in the anxiety students felt towards speaking English. Furthermore, as clear differences were seen in international posture, joining the study abroad program also meant that students felt more a part of the global community. Based on these results, the author concludes that traveling abroad for the purposes of study is indeed effective for adolescent learners of English, helping them feel more comfortable using the language as a tool for communication. 本論の目的は、短期海外研修参加者の第2言語におけるWillingness to Communicate (WTC) の向上に及ぼす効果について、より深い知見を獲得することである。八島(2002)によって作成されたアンケートを用い、シドニー•オーストラリアでの10日間の海外研修に参加した80人の日本人中学生のサンプルを事前事後調査方式で研究を行った。結果からわかったことは、統計的にみると海外研修に参加した生徒の第2言語における学習意欲には有意差が見られなかったが、生徒が英語を話すことに対して抱いていた不安の軽減が顕著に見られたということである。さらに、国際的な姿勢に明らかな差異が見られ、海外研修への参加は、生徒が国際社会の一員としての認識を強めるものとなっていた。これらの結果により、筆者は、学習を目的とする海外研修は英語を学ぶ生徒には非常に効果があり、海外研修によって生徒たちはより安心感を持って言語をコミュニケーションツールとして用いることができるようになったとの結論に達した。


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Zhonghao Zhou

Culture and language are inseparable, and cultures as groups adopt particular practices and norms of behavior. Culture teaching is a long and complex process concerning something more than language use itself. The two popular theories influencing practice today are the Constructivist and the Creative Constructionist approaches, and the technique for conveying cultural awareness is cultural assimilator, which has been designed for specific cultures around the world. Cross-cultural training can be used to promote cultural awareness, that is, sensitize people to the influence of culture on people’s values and behaviors and help them recognize and accept the existence of cultural differences.


2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol A. Chapelle

This paper argues that the vertical spread of computer-assisted language learning (CALL), i.e., a spread throughout language materials and curricula, makes it difficult to draw a clear distinction between CALL and other language materials. In view of the emphasis that teachers, researchers, and administrators have placed on evaluating CALL, I argue that some valuable lessons about materials evaluation can be drawn from reflection on issues in CALL evaluation. In particular, I discuss the opportunities for professionals to reconsider assumptions held about comparative research, draw upon research perspectives and methods from applied linguistics in materials evaluation, and include critical perspectives which examine the opportunities that materials offer language learners to engage in language and culture learning.


2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tamilla Curtis ◽  
John R. Ledgerwood

Purpose The purpose of this study is to identify students’ motivations and perceived benefits of engaging in study abroad programs, as well as challenges and missed opportunities. Design/methodology/approach An online survey was sent to random samples of students on two university campuses. Descriptive statistics and frequency analyses were conducted with the use of the SPSS data management software package. Findings Despite the majority of students having previous international travel experience and understanding the benefits of study abroad programs, most of them will not pursue the possibility to enroll in the study abroad programs. Contrary, most of respondents did express an interest to participate in international co-op/internship opportunities while attending the university. The study identified motivations, perceived benefits and constraints for students to enroll in study abroad programs. Research limitations/implications Further research using samples from different universities and colleges would present a more comprehensive picture of motivations, expectations and constraints. Practical implications Educators should promote study abroad program benefits and clearly identify the link between international experiences and future students’ employability. Study abroad programs can serve as important tool for increasing overall students’ retention and recruitment. Social implications In higher education, study abroad programs can serve as important tool for increasing overall students’ retention and recruitment. Originality/value This research uncovers students’ study abroad intent, interests, motivations, perceived personal and professional benefits and desired structure for the program. The findings provide insights into how administrators can enhance the value of the summer study abroad program offered by higher educational institutions.


2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 1128
Author(s):  
Xinxiao Yang ◽  
Dianbing Chen

The teaching of culture teaching has been listed as one of the five goals in foreign language teaching and learning by the Standards for Foreign Language Learning in the new Century. However, the beliefs and attitudes of foreign language instructors towards the teaching of culture at the college-level remain unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate language instructors’ attitudes and beliefs towards teaching culture and the difficulties and barriers of teaching culture to college-level students. This qualitative case study explored the teaching of culture in Modern Language Department at a university through document mining, classroom observations, and interviews of language instructors who taught various foreign languages. Findings revealed two profound barriers, 1) instructors’ beliefs and attitudes, and 2) the lack of professional development opportunities in learning strategies on weaving culture teaching, in foreign language classrooms at the college-level.


2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (04) ◽  
pp. 791-796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey D. Pugh

AbstractThe conventional wisdom about political science international education assumes that students choose between short “island” study abroad programs that are accessible but have only superficial impact, and longer immersion programs, achieving a greater effect. This article argues that well-designed study abroad programs can combine the best of both models to achieve significant impact even in a short program. It proposes a “bridge model” for reconceptualizing study abroad not as a discrete event with more or less impact on student learning, but as a key intervention that furthers a student's overall development within an internationalized curriculum. The article examines the case of a peacebuilding study abroad program in Ecuador. It measures alumni perceptions of impact, objective outcomes, and alumni network development. The key finding is that solid program design and structured cross-cultural interaction produces the type of long-term effect and networks traditionally associated with immersion programs.


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