Open AccessPreparing students for studying abroad
Author(s) -
Federica Goldoni
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the journal of scholarship of teaching and learning
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1527-9316
DOI - 10.14434/josotl.v15i4.13640
Subject(s) - study abroad , construct (python library) , pedagogy , situated , institution , multiculturalism , intercultural communication , identity (music) , sociology , public relations , higher education , face (sociological concept) , cultural competence , foreign language , psychology , political science , social science , physics , artificial intelligence , computer science , acoustics , law , programming language
This study is situated in the fields of language education, study abroad (SA) and intercultural communication. The interest in SA is increasing on the part of students, administrators, educators, and business companies. However, SA students are not always prepared to maximize their learning opportunities at the foreign site, to effectively interact with locals, to develop cultural awareness, and to respond to challenging situations occurring abroad. This article suggests preparatory activities and projects, including exercises on students’ own identity as a powerful construct impacting their SA experiences. University officials and international education offices face the challenge to rethink the SA experience at their institution, focus on what learners need to take home from SA, and implement practices that are the truly effective to prepare student to become global citizens. Our fast-changing multicultural societies need translingually and transculturally competent language speakers who can function as informed interlocutors in contact with host communities.