Study abroad and Self-efficacy J. Cubillos University of Delaware

TABLE 1: Changes in the number of study abroad programs and participants 1994/52004/52007/8 Number of Participants 84,403205,983262,416 Number of Programs 2,0056,5149,015 Source: IIE’s-Open Doors Report, 2009

TABLE 2: Length of Study Abroad Experience among 2007/8 Participants Short-termSemesterYear 56%40%4%

TABLE 3: Research Articles on Study Abroad Published Between 2000 and 2010 Foreign Language Annals (FLA) Modern Language Journal (MLJ) TOTALS3018

Linguistic Benefits of Study Abroad SignificantGreat variabilityNegligible Martinsen, 2010Segalowitz, 2004DeKeyser, 1991 Vicente, 2011Rees & Klapper, 2007Cubillos, Chieffo & Fan, 2008 Davidson, 2010Taguchi, 2011

Motivation A need or desire to learn Traditional perspectives: Gardner & Lambert (1972): Choice motivation (Instrumental/integrative) Study abroad (Kouritzin et al, 2009; Koul et al, 2009): Integrative motivation-higher proficiency

Motivation Research (Cont.) Sustained Deep Learning (SDL), Schumann (1997) Complex learning tasks require a drive that can sustain effort until proficiency is achieved Dörnyei (1994): Process Model of Foreign Language Motivation Beyond intention, to execution, to evaluation

FIGURE 4: Dörnyei ‘s Process Model of Foreign Language Motivation

Dornyei’s Motivational Model Post-actional phase is paramount in SDL The determining factor in further learning is self-efficacy beliefs “If the learner is convinced that his/her performance was adequate or amenable to improvement through further learning he/she will be more likely to engage and persist in additional learning tasks”

Research Questions 1.Does the study abroad experience have any impact on self-efficacy perceptions among FL learners? 2.Is the impact of study abroad on self-efficacy perceptions uniform across all language skills (reading, writing, reading, speaking)? 3.Do changes in self-efficacy perceptions vary depending on destination or length of program? 4.What is the role of cultural engagement (amount and type of interaction with the local community) on self-efficacy perceptions?

Research Design Instrument development for the measurement of FL self-efficacy (National Capital Language Resource Center) Repeated measures design to explore the impact of treatment (study abroad experience) Regression analysis to determine the role of cultural engagement on self-efficacy gains

TABLE 4: Demographics Experimental Groups Total number of participants 39 Number of Participants / Short Term Program 13 Number of Participants / Semester Program 26 Participants in French 14 Participants in Spanish 25 Males 7 Females 32 Average age 19 Prior language experience in college (average) / Short-term program 1-2 semesters Prior language experience in college (average) / Semester program 3-4 semesters

TABLE 5: Key Measures in the Development of the Pre- and Post- Self-Efficacy Scales for Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking Skills ScaleChronbach’s alphaEigen Value% of Variance Scale MeanStd DevMinMax Pre Reading % Post Reading % Pre Writing % Post Writing % Pre Listening % Post Listening % Pre Speaking % Post Speaking %

Research Questions 1.Does the study abroad experience have any impact on self-efficacy perceptions among FL learners?

TABLE 6: Matched Paired Tests of Gain for the Self- Efficacy Skills Self-Efficacy ScalePost MeanPre MeanDifferencet-ratio Percent Increase Reading ***19.6 Writing ***15.2 Listening ***29.3 Speaking ***23.5 * p <.05 ** p <.01 *** p <.0001

Research Questions 2.Is the impact of study abroad on self-efficacy perceptions uniform across all language skills (reading, writing, reading, speaking)?

TABLE 7: Q 2 Measures of Self-Efficacy Gain by Language Sub-Skill Self-Efficacy ScaleQ2Q2 Percent due to Variance Percent due to Mean Reading Writing Listening Speaking

Research Questions 3.Do changes in self-efficacy perceptions vary depending on destination or length of program?

TABLE 8: Regression Models of the Gain in Self-Efficacy Scales Reading GainWriting GainListening GainSpeaking Gain Intercept 9.971*** ***13.888*** Pre-Measure-0.413*** ***-0.653*** Language Length 1.153** 1.387** 1.432** R2R * p <.05 ** p <.01 *** p <.0001

Research Questions 4.What is the role of cultural engagement (amount and type of interaction with the local community) on self-efficacy perceptions?

TABLE 9: Cultural Engagement Questions Administered to Students After Completing the Study Abroad Percent Frequently 1. Shopping/visiting local markets Movies/entertainment catering to locals Restaurants/pubs/cafes catering to locals Visiting local families/friends in their homes Participating in worship services On-campus informal conversations Events sponsored by the study abroad program Extra-curricular activities (student clubs, intramurals, etc.) Volunteering/service-learning/internships/shadowing 5.4

TABLE 10: Regression Models of the Gain in Self-Efficacy Scales as a Function of Cultural Engagement Reading GainWriting GainListening GainSpeaking Gain Engage ** Engage Engage Engage Engage Engage Engage * * 6.938*** R2R Adjusted R

Conclusions and Recommendations Study abroad experiences enhance self- efficacy beliefs among FL learners Self-efficacy changes occur across all language sub-skills Highest benefits are associated with longer stays Students participating in shorter programs also benefit significantly from the study abroad experience

Conclusions/Recommendations (Cont) Study abroad has a great potential as a recruitment and retention tool Interaction with the local community is associated with self-efficacy gains

APPENDIX C: Sample Student Responses to Survey This program has strengthened my confidence because I was able to try out my Spanish and was able to realize how much I really could do. This experience has greatly enhanced my confidence in speaking Spanish. Everybody speaks it so well, obviously because it's their 1st language. But the embarrassment doesn't stop me from trying. I'm encouraged by it to get better and to match their fluency. It has enhanced my ability to overcome any amount of fear or embarrassment I had to speak the language. There were so many times that I had to ask for directions or ask people questions that I’m not embarrassed or shy to ask people anymore.

APPENDIX C: Sample Student Responses to Survey It has enhanced my confidence. At the beginning, mastering Spanish seemed like an impossible task but it has evolved into a challenge that I feel will be very beneficial. The number of bilingual people in Europe is astounding and I would love to one day be able to communicate fluently in a different language. I have decided to pick up a Spanish minor as a result of this trip and I would like to study abroad to another Spanish-speaking country to continue to practice. I'm definitely more confident in my ability to master the French language, but I think the program is slightly lacking in opportunities to build that skill in a native-speaking environment. I would like to known at the start how to find channels of interaction with French students and people my age.