Linguistic Benefits of Study Abroad: Boren Award Recipient Gains in Oral Language Proficiency

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  In Roundtable Session: Variations in Second Language Use and Acquisition Across Contexts

Abstract

This paper explores the language gains made by U.S. students who received a Boren Scholarship or Fellowship. In size and scope, it is the largest presentation of oral language gains during study abroad and represents the greatest number of host countries and languages studied to date. A hierarchical linear model was used to analyze Oral Proficiency Interview exam results taken before and after study abroad for 2,466 Boren Scholars and Fellows. The findings demonstrate that duration abroad, initial proficiency level, and the interaction between duration and initial proficiency level positively affect language acquisition. Gender and grade point average impact student’s linguistic gains to some extent. This study identifies small distinctions between the gains made by students studying different languages

Author

• Leah M. Mason, Institute of International Education