The Impact of Study Abroad on the Professional Lives of World Language Teachers (original) (raw)
Related papers
Study Abroad as Professional Development: Voices of In-Service Spanish Teachers
2015
The purpose of this qualitative inquiry was to understand how four in-service Spanish teachers interpreted their participation in a summer study abroad program and how the experience contributed to their ongoing professional development and language proficiency. Using a multiple case design (Simons, 2009; Stake, 2005; Yin, 2009), the researchers conducted interviews, recorded field observations and collected participant journals. By analyzing these teachers’ voices, it was found that the experience revealed a newfound realization of their language proficiency and its impact on their professional practice. A salient finding of the study abroad experience was that these teachers expressed a commitment to further develop their language skills outside of the classroom. Implications for foreign language educators include the need for sustained professional development that focuses on both content and proficiency. Over the past 30 years, the notion of best practices within the field of fo...
Sustainable Multilingualism
Summary With the globalization of the world and the ease to travel to different parts of the globe, the popularity of exchange programs for students has increased. Many students around the world apply such programs in order to have international learning experiences in which they can, besides educational purposes, meet new social and cultural values while introducing their native cultures. As study-abroad experiences have attracted attention regarding their various effects on the participants, research focusing on students participating in such programs may provide useful insight on their contributions to pre-service teachers’ teaching philosophies. Therefore, this study is intended to investigate the effects of a study-abroad experience on the way three pre-service teachers perceived the teaching profession and whether it modified their teaching philosophy. The data were collected through reflection reports and semi-structured interviews with three Turkish pre-service teachers who ...
International Journal of Comparative Education and Development, 2021
Purpose This paper aims to focus on the long-term international experiences of a group of preservice English teachers who studied abroad as part of their training and recently returned home. Design/methodology/approach Employing an interpretivist case study, five preservice English teachers participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The participants were consulted to elicit feedback as the part of a member checking procedure. Findings This study revealed that the participants' views of their international experience were primarily shaped by two main themes: (1) postsojourn outcomes: intercultural learning, professional learning and personal growth and (2) “bumps” in the road: struggles in capitalizing the learning opportunities. Originality/value Recruiting students for extended study abroad programs alone without a concerted effort to address (inter)cultural learning and growth might not guarantee the quality and the outcomes of such programs. Based on the findings, the rol...
Integrating Study Abroad in Teacher Education
Handbook of Research on Study Abroad Programs and Outbound Mobility
This chapter describes the design of an innovative ‘Study Abroad' curriculum to be integrated into teacher education departments. The curriculum is based upon the results of in-depth interviews administered to teacher candidates and/or practicing teachers of English following their return from a study abroad program. The curriculum is designed with a view to meeting the needs of prospective study abroad student teachers of English, and to address possible challenges that may result from their participation in such programs. The most innovative aspect of the curriculum is that it incorporates problem scenarios, and provides experiential hands-on practice. The curriculum comprises ten modules, each focused on a different topic. It is expected that the curriculum will enhance teacher educators' awareness of the contribution(s) study abroad makes to create global citizens, and increase teacher educators' knowledge about the learning needs of prospective study abroad student ...
Short-Term International Experiences in Language Teacher Education: A Qualitative Meta-Synthesis
Australian Journal of Teacher Education, 2019
Short-term international experiential learning opportunities can foster language teachers' multidimensional development. Even though such experiences are considered beneficial for language teachers' development, educational reviews have scarcely concentrated on a comprehensive synthesis of the impact of such experiences on language teachers. This meta-synthesis of qualitative research analyzed the role of international experiential learning in the multidimensional development of pre-and in-service language teachers. Besides presenting a number of research patterns in the literature, this synthesis of 25 qualitative studies reported main outcomes of short-term international experiences for language teachers. These outcomes were synthesized under three main headings: (1) professional, (2) linguistic, and (3) intercultural. Based on this analysis, further research and practice directions regarding international language teacher education emerged. These emerging research agendas concentrated on the critical role of peer circles, host communities, program types and structures, preparation and post-program components, and guidance and supervision.
Journal of Research in International Education, 2020
This study reports on the impact of international visiting faculty's teaching experiences in the United States on their personal, professional, and intercultural development. It is based on the principles of qualitative research and can be described as a case study. Data collection involved a questionnaire, a written narrative, and a semi-structured interview with each of a number of teachers. Participants included a group of 22 visiting faculty. Three main categories, each of which can be subdivided into benefits and challenges, emerged from the analysis: intercultural matters, professional matters, and personal matters. A wide range of benefits was identified, suggesting that the participants adapted to new life styles, became more mature, obtained a deeper understanding of themselves, reaffirmed their own educational values and philosophies, raised cultural awareness, became more flexible, and developed attitudes that involved tolerance and respect. Conversely, visiting faculty reported that they faced challenges related to language barriers, interaction with native speakers, classroom management, lack of support from school administrators, and separation from family.
Taking French Teachers to France: Organizing a Summer Immersion Program Supported by Grants
Foreign Language Annals, 1995
This article describes the various steps that were taken to organize and implement a he-week French summer institute for secondaty teachers o f French, involving a threeweek stay in France and funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the French Cultural Services. Afrer outlining the reasons that led to the conception o f the project, the author explains the objectives behind the program, the course content, and the administration of the Institute. Also described are budget considerations, participants' progress, the evaluation process, the video project developed by the participants, and the follow-up to the Institute. The article refers to obstacles encountered along the way and includes recommendations for similar projects. It should prove useful to anyone interested in organizing a summer institute abroad.
Studying Abroad to Inform Teaching in a Diverse Society
Advances in higher education and professional development book series, 2016
This chapter presents information about Ball State University's Study Abroad Program within the Department of Elementary Education. A general description of students enrolled in the Elementary Education program is given, both historically and currently. Then the origins of the Ball State Elementary Education Study Abroad program are explained, followed by a description of countries and program types that have occurred over the years. A general overview of program considerations, including making contacts, recruiting students, and working with schools is then provided. Next, three travel programs in the department are described, including development, recruitment, and vignettes focusing on experiences in each program. Next, research about program experiences is presented, including the impact of study abroad experiences on students. Personal reflections from instructors who have participated will then be shared. Finally, suggestions about developing and implementing programs will be identified.
Fifty student teachers who travelled abroad through three types of programs, namely, au pair, teaching assistantship and work abroad, while enrolled in two public Colombian universities, provided interview and survey data for this mixed method study which privileges a qualitative approach. Researchers analyzed these participants’ reports with the purpose of determining how their international sojourns leveraged their lan - guage abilities and their pedagogical learning. Results show participants’ self-perceived language betterment as anchored in their strategies and attitudes to capitalize on the multifarious learning opportunities they encountered. At the pedagogical level, expanding teaching skills and perspectives concerning methodology, the role of culture in learning, material design and curriculum became serendipitous achievements which hinged upon student teachers’ relation with mentors and participation in various pedagogical scenarios.
Teaching Practice Abroad for Developing Intercultural Competence in Foreign Language Teachers
Canadian Journal of Applied Linguistics, 2016
AbstractFor foreign-language students, living abroad for a period of time during their studies is often a compulsory component of their university degrees. Similarly, European preservice teachers have the opportunity to complete a work placement at a partner school in a target language country. In this way, future English as a foreign language teachers have the chance not only to foster their linguistic and intercultural competence, but also to experience a different professional and institutional culture and ideally enhance their professional skills. The present study focuses on the perspectives of 35 undergraduate preservice teachers based in Germany who completed a 3-month teaching practice placement in Ireland or the United Kingdom between 2010 and 2014. In this research project, data from 5 years of reflective reports (n = 276) underwent content analysis, were complimented with focus group discussions (n = 6) after the preservice teachers’ stay abroad, and were analyzed for the...