The Impact of Short‐Term Study Abroad Programs on L2 Listening Comprehension Skills

Bibliographic Data

ID8938580
AuthorsJorge H Cubillos (0000-0001-5969-5773, Delaware State University, corresponding author), Lisa P Chieffo (University of Delaware), Lisa Chieffo, Chunbo Fan (Delaware State University)
Year2008
Volume41
Issue1
Pages157-186
Publication date2008-03-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueForeign Language Annals (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0015-718X • E-ISSN: 1944-9720
PublisherWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1944-9720.2008.tb03284.x
OpenAlexW2033206603
LanguageEN
Citations received39
References cited35

This study investigates the impact of a five‐week intermediate Spanish course on the listening comprehension ability of 48 participants in short‐term study abroad programs, and compares these groups with 92 peers enrolled in a similar course on the home campus. While both on‐campus and study abroad groups experienced similar gains in listening comprehension, there were significant differences in the way learners approached listening tasks: The study abroad group applied primarily top‐down and social listening strategies, while the on‐campus students favored bottom‐up processing. Higher‐proficiency students in the study abroad groups had significantly higher comprehension gains, and the study abroad groups achieved higher levels of confidence and self‐perceived ability after the treatment. Results outline some of the benefits and limitations of short‐term foreign sojourns for beginner and low‐intermediate language learners

Active listening · Comprehension · Foreign language · Language proficiency · Linguistics · Listening comprehension · Mathematics education · Pedagogy · Study abroad · Term (time · Communication · EFL/ESL Teaching and Learning · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Psychology · Second Language Learning and Teaching

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