Skip to Main Content
 

Global Search Box

 
 
 
 

Files

File List


Kitiabi Thesis 5-30-18.pdf (478.12 KB)

ETD Abstract Container

Abstract Header

Second Language Acquisition in a Study Abroad Context: International Students' Perspectives of the Evolution of their `Second Language Self'

Kitiabi, Dianah B.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1525808048536783

Abstract Details

2018, Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, Cross-Cultural, International Education.
This study examines the experiences of graduate international students' experiences in Study Abroad (SA) in order to understand the evolution of their second language (L2) skills during the period of their sojourn abroad. The study documents students' perspectives through analysis of interview data, situated within the context of their overall SA experience. Based on a phenomenological approach, the study focuses on a sample of nine graduate students with at least one year of SA experience. Gass & Mackey's (2007) interaction approach and Vygotsky's (1962) sociocultural theory help frame the study within the discourse of second language acquisition (SLA) in SA such as to highlight the effects of SA on L2 skills of advanced level learners. The findings of the study are first presented as individual case vignettes where students' interpretations of their personal experiences are described in entirety, then followed by an analysis across the cases which highlights emergent themes.The results of this study show that linguistic outcomes of international students studying abroad are highly individualized. Although the students reported to have improved some of their L2 skills, they also reported a lack of improvement in other L2 skills, most of which differed by case. What emerges is that besides contextual factors, students' pre-program exposure to L2, interactions with NSs, frequency of L2 use in context and personal beliefs contribute to their linguistic gains in SA.
Sherri Horner, Ph. D. (Advisor)
Christy Galletta Horner, Ph. D. (Committee Member)
Kimberly Spallinger (Committee Member)
94 p.
Education; Language; Linguistics
study abroad; second language acquisition; interaction; context

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kitiabi, D. B. (2018). Second Language Acquisition in a Study Abroad Context: International Students' Perspectives of the Evolution of their `Second Language Self' [Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1525808048536783

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kitiabi, Dianah. Second Language Acquisition in a Study Abroad Context: International Students' Perspectives of the Evolution of their `Second Language Self' . 2018. Bowling Green State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1525808048536783.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kitiabi, Dianah. "Second Language Acquisition in a Study Abroad Context: International Students' Perspectives of the Evolution of their `Second Language Self' ." Master's thesis, Bowling Green State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1525808048536783

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

bgsu1525808048536783
2,977
© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Bowling Green State University and OhioLINK.