Language Learning in International Mobility Contexts

Funder: Language Learning Early Career Research Grant, Temple University Provost’s Summer Research Award and Grant-in-Aid, Temple University College of Liberal Arts Research Award

How does successful foreign language development unfold in study abroad contexts? Dr Janire Zalbidea has led a series of complementary research studies focusing on this central question. Her projects have investigated issues such as how short-term international mobility experiences contribute to university students’ foreign language development across different study abroad locations, the influence of students’ linguistic proficiency at programme onset on their experiences abroad, and the ways in which social engagement abroad fosters students’ personal development beyond language learning. This work has important implications for advancing theories of second language acquisition in immersive contexts, documenting mobility-driven language learning outcomes, and enhancing student preparedness to maximize the benefits of study abroad experiences.