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Article In: Study Abroad Research in Second Language Acquisition and International Education: Online-First Articles

Time vs type?

Contact effects on L2 development during study abroad and after

 | University of Liverpool
 | University College Cork
 | University of Leeds
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
This special issue brings together articles which explore the highly contested, yet under-researched, impact of length of stay (LoS) of study abroad (SA) on the development of various aspects of the linguistic repertoire. It positions LoS as a significant complex variable interacting with myriad interconnected elements and which should be considered a central factor in all SA research. We argue for clearer specifications of LoS to be used throughout SA research, ensuring well-founded justifications for why different LoS may generate divergent linguistic outcomes. We start with an evaluation of how LoS is operationalized. We then provide a general overview of its impact, before turning our focus to how LoS relates specifically to the elements of the linguistic repertoire addressed by the papers in this special issue — namely oral proficiency, lexical, grammatical, and sociopragmatic development.
Article outline
  • 1.The operationalization of length of stay: An inconsistent concept
  • 2.Length of stay and language development in study abroad: A complex relationship
    • 2.1Oral proficiency
    • 2.2Lexical development
    • 2.3Grammatical development
    • 2.4(Socio)pragmatic development
  • 3.The articles
  • 4.Desiderata for future research
  • References
References (95)
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