Language Learning and Study Abroad: A Critical Reading of Research

What do we know about language learning in study abroad? The research base on this topic has expanded to include a wide variety of approaches and methods. In addition to documenting the outcomes of student sojourns overseas, researchers have attempted to understand the relationship between language learning and the qualities of the experience. This book provides a wide-ranging overview and critical assessment of research on language learning and student mobility, taking the reader on a tour through the history and contemporary landscape of this field. The book opens with an overview of policy related to language education in study abroad, then explores various ways in which researchers have documented the language-related outcomes of these programs. The focus then turns to the nature of student experiences and the role of identity in class-rooms, homestays, and informal interactions. The book ends with practical suggestions to teachers, program designers, and policy makers to help students make the most of study abroad.