Study Abroad Among In-Service Spanish Teachers: A Commitment to Target Language Use

• In Event: Roundtable Session 52
  In Roundtable Session: Emergent Language Use in Multilingual Settings

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate inservice Spanish teachers participating in a study abroad program and its effect on their awareness of their language proficiency and related instructional practice. Through the use of interviews, observations and reflection journals, it was revealed that, as a result of the study abroad experience, participants (N =10) realized deficiencies in their foreign language proficiency and identified areas of improvement. Participants also committed to taking steps to reach the goal of using the target language in their classrooms at least 90% of the time (ACTFL, 2010). The following paper will provide a brief overview of the study, the supporting theoretical framework, methods, results and scholarly contributions to the field of foreign language education.

Author

• Chris J Jochum, University of Nebraska - Kearney