Disciplines
Modern Languages
Abstract (300 words maximum)
Amid concerns for the coming enrollment cliff as well as enrollment attrition in humanities programs, one sector of higher education that continues to grow is international students. In view of growing concerns about enrollment attrition and shrinking resources for sustainable international learning experiences, short-term programs grounded in institutional partnerships may offer opportunities of mutual benefit to international participants and domestic stakeholders. This exploratory case study examines the effects of a six-weeks English language learning program in which seventeen German adults participated in Spring semester 2024. This project investigates the program’s impact on participants’ language proficiency and intercultural competence development and on classmates’ attitudinal dispositions and behaviors. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study triangulates data from pre- and post-intervention tests, learners' and instructors' attitudinal survey responses, and focus-group interviews with two participant groups and instructors. Preliminary findings indicate a positive impact of short-term intensive English learning programs on learners' proficiency, regardless of cohort, as demonstrated by pre- and post-test scores. Both learners and instructors highlighted the program's effectiveness while also identifying challenges and areas for improvement, including language development, shifts in attitudes and behaviors, and an increase in intercultural competence. This session will focus on the latter, exploring the growth of IC among participants with results presented by an undergraduate student of International Relations and the research assistant who completed IRB training and submitted the study to IRB review. While the findings cannot be generalized, they may have implications for program and instructional design; student success and learner support strategies; and sustainable efforts to facilitate international and cross-disciplinary partnerships in diverse educational settings. Research findings will be shared with session participants to allow for further review.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
RCHSS - Interdisciplinary Studies
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Sabine Smith
Included in
Undergraduate Human Subjects Research Lab Experiences in Humanities
Amid concerns for the coming enrollment cliff as well as enrollment attrition in humanities programs, one sector of higher education that continues to grow is international students. In view of growing concerns about enrollment attrition and shrinking resources for sustainable international learning experiences, short-term programs grounded in institutional partnerships may offer opportunities of mutual benefit to international participants and domestic stakeholders. This exploratory case study examines the effects of a six-weeks English language learning program in which seventeen German adults participated in Spring semester 2024. This project investigates the program’s impact on participants’ language proficiency and intercultural competence development and on classmates’ attitudinal dispositions and behaviors. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this study triangulates data from pre- and post-intervention tests, learners' and instructors' attitudinal survey responses, and focus-group interviews with two participant groups and instructors. Preliminary findings indicate a positive impact of short-term intensive English learning programs on learners' proficiency, regardless of cohort, as demonstrated by pre- and post-test scores. Both learners and instructors highlighted the program's effectiveness while also identifying challenges and areas for improvement, including language development, shifts in attitudes and behaviors, and an increase in intercultural competence. This session will focus on the latter, exploring the growth of IC among participants with results presented by an undergraduate student of International Relations and the research assistant who completed IRB training and submitted the study to IRB review. While the findings cannot be generalized, they may have implications for program and instructional design; student success and learner support strategies; and sustainable efforts to facilitate international and cross-disciplinary partnerships in diverse educational settings. Research findings will be shared with session participants to allow for further review.