Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

From The Foreign Language Classroom Into The Target Culture: Analyzing The Shift In Language Learning Activity, Heather W. Allen

Heather Willis Allen

Foreign language (FL) learning in the study abroad context is a complex and profoundly interpersonal activity, involving far more than individual learning. Many assume immersion experiences and associated opportunities for sustained interactions with members of the target culture lead to enhanced FL abilities (Allen & Herron, 2003; Freed, 1995), greater understanding of the “other” and more positive attitudes toward the target culture (Stephenson, 1999). But how do learners negotiate the shift in FL learning activity as their role changes from classroom students to members of a new community? The goal of this study is to explore the complexities of the …