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Student Expectations, Motivations, Target Language Use, and Perceived Learning Progress in a Summer Study Abroad Program in Germany
Author(s) -
Badstübner Tina,
Ecke Peter
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
die unterrichtspraxis/teaching german
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1756-1221
pISSN - 0042-062X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1756-1221.2009.00034.x
Subject(s) - active listening , study abroad , psychology , pedagogy , mathematics education , medical education , medicine , communication
This study investigated students' motives for participating in a short‐term study abroad program in Germany, their expectations about learning progress at the beginning of the program, and their perceived progress in various language skills at the end of the program. Findings indicated that students' expectations were higher than their perceived progress in all skills with the exception of cultural learning. Correlations were found between reported frequency of listening in the L2 and gains in L2 listening proficiency, and between the goals “to be in contact with Germans” and “cultural enrichment” with expected gains in speaking and listening skills.