Luna Fermin

Publication Date

5-5-2017

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Faretta-Stutenberg, Mandy

Degree Name

B.A. (Bachelor of Arts)

Legacy Department

Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures

Abstract

The focus of this project is to determine whether or not second-language learners make significant linguistic gains during short-term study abroad programs. Today we see a ton of study-abroad programs, specifically short-term programs, that are popping up all over the nation but we do not really know if these experiences make a difference when it comes to learner proficiency. When people ask, What is the best way to acquire another language? most people typically say that studying in a different country is the most effective way; however, the results of empirical research are mixed. This particular project hones in on two groups of students participating in five-week study abroad programs in Spain designed for (a) beginning learners and (b) intermediate-advanced learners, respectively. Learner proficiency was measured using multiple metrics from learners during weeks one and five of their study-abroad programs. Data were examined in order to determine (a) whether learners made significant gains in proficiency during study abroad and (b) whether proficiency changes were related to pre-program proficiency in order to explore the linguistic impact of short-term study abroad programs and the role of initial proficiency and preparedness in linguistic gains during study abroad.

Extent

12 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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