L2 Self, Willingness to Communicate and International Posture in a Short-Term Study Abroad Program

• Main Authors: CHANG, SHIH-CHEN, 張詩晨
• Other Authors: CHENG, HSING-FU
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2018
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/y4s53x

碩士 === 銘傳大學 === 應用英語學系碩士在職專班 === 107 === Short-term study abroad programs provide not only formal language learning instruction in the classroom but also the opportunities to experience the culture outside the school, especially the opportunity to immerse in the target language. While most of the study abroad research in Taiwan focuses on the participants’ gains regarding linguistic development, the potential links between the learners’ willingness to communicate and L2 self have received relatively little attention. This mixed method study traces the development of attitudinal and behavioral changes of a group of 20 university students who participated in a 3-week study abroad program featuring an intercultural communication course in the UK. Based on Yashima's study (2009), the researcher examined the participants' L2 WTC, international posture, L2 self, and communication competence. Pearson correlation showed that unlike ought-to L2 self, the L2 ideal self is significantly related to L2 WTC, communication frequency, and communication competence. However, the t-test indicated that no significant differences between the pre-and-post study abroad data were identified. Complementary qualitative interviews were adopted to shed light on the underlying factors that might facilitate or impede L2 self and L2 WTC in the study abroad context. The interview data derived from the students’ responses implied that a short-term study abroad program does raise their awareness of the importance of actively seeking opportunities to communicate with interlocutors in L2. The study concludes with certain pedagogical implications.