The Effect of Short-Term Study-Abroad on Language Learning

Abstract

The topic of this paper is the effect and value of a short-term studyabroad program as a part of university studies. The paper presents a study conducted among Icelandic students of German participating in a two-week course in Germany which aimed at enhancing spoken language skills. The course is offered by the Faculty of Languages and Cultures of the Karl Eberhard University in Tübingen, Germany. The study shows that this short-term program increases the language input greatly and has a positive impact, not only on the students’
foreign language skills but also on various other aspects, such as cross-cultural understanding, intercultural sensitivity, knowledge of German culture, the German language, and everyday life in Germany. Also, staying in a German-speaking country leads to changing attitudes and habits of the students. The study shows that the course equips students of German and other disciplines with intercultural experience and increases their intercultural sensitivity.

Keywords: short-term study abroad, intercultural experience, German, spoken language skills in Germany