The Professional Lives of Language Study Abroad Alumni

Jingyuan Zhuang, Celeste Kinginger

Description

Explores whether foreign language ability contributes to career readiness and offers personal and professional opportunities

This book investigates the impact of language learning and study abroad on the career options and choices of US-based alumni of all ages. It reports on the results of a mixed-methods study which used both an extensive nationwide survey and qualitative life history interviews with 54 participants systematically selected to represent a broad range of backgrounds and professions. International education experiences are shown to exert considerable influence on the aspirations and career paths of individuals in a wide variety of fields (e.g. education, healthcare, business, government service). The long-term benefits of language study are illustrated both in narratives from individuals whose work requires proficiency beyond English and from participant comments on improvement in their use of English for international communication. The book will be of relevance to a wide audience of international education professionals in addition to researchers and students in applied linguistics and language education.

Figures, Tables and Box

Simplified Transcription Conventions

Acknowledgements

Chapter 1: Introduction and Literature Review

Chapter 2: Research Design 

Chapter 3: Using Languages at Work

Chapter 4: Discovering a Calling

Chapter 5: Quests for Identity

Chapter 6: Exploring Features of Study Abroad Programs

Chapter 7: Multilingual Dispositions and Lessons for Life

Chapter 8: Conclusion

Appendices

References

Sujets

• Disciplines
• Language Arts
• Teaching
• EDUCATION
• Lettres et linguistique
• Higher
• Multilingualism
• Study
• Level
• Professional
• Language education
• Postgraduate education
• School
• Higher education
• Research
• Postgraduate

Informations

• Publié par: Channel View Publications
• Date de parution: 05 avril 2023
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781800412521
• Langue: English

Extrait

NEW PERSPECTIVES ON LANGUAGE AND EDUCATION
Founding Editor: Viv Edwards, University of Reading, UK Series Editors: Phan Le Ha, University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA and Joel Windle, Monash University, Australia .
Two decades of research and development in language and literacy education have yielded a broad, multidisciplinary focus. Yet education systems face constant economic and technological change, with attendant issues of identity and power, community and culture. What are the implications for language education of new ‘semiotic economies’ and communications technologies? Of complex blendings of cultural and linguistic diversity in communities and institutions? Of new cultural, regional and national identities and practices? The New Perspectives on Language and Education series will feature critical and interpretive, disciplinary and multidisciplinary perspectives on teaching and learning, language and literacy in new times. New proposals, particularly for edited volumes, are expected to acknowledge and include perspectives from the Global South. Contributions from scholars from the Global South will be particularly sought out and welcomed, as well as those from marginalized communities within the Global North.
All books in this series are externally peer-reviewed.
Full details of all the books in this series and of all our other publications can be found on http://www.multilingual-matters.com , or by writing to Multilingual Matters, St Nicholas House, 31-34 High Street, Bristol, BS1 2AW, UK.

DOI https://doi.org/10.21832/KINGIN2507
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
A catalog record for this book is available from the Library of Congress.
Names: Kinginger, Celeste, author. | Zhuang, Jingyuan, author.
Title: The Professional Lives of Language Study Abroad Alumni: A Mixed Methods Investigation/Celeste Kinginger and Jingyuan Zhuang.
Description: Bristol, UK; Jackson, TN: Multilingual Matters, 2023. | Series: New Perspectives on Language and Education: 113 | Includes bibliographical references and index. | Summary: ‘This book investigates the impact of language learning and study abroad on the career options and choices of US-based alumni of all ages. International education experiences are shown to exert considerable influence on the aspirations and career paths of individuals, and the long-term benefits are clearly demonstrated in participant narratives’ – Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022054168 (print) | LCCN 2022054169 (ebook) | ISBN 9781800412491 (paperback) | ISBN 9781800412507 (hardback) | ISBN 9781800412521 (epub) | ISBN 9781800412514 (pdf)
Subjects: LCSH: Second language acquisition. | Language and languages – Study and teaching. | Language and languages – Economic aspects. | Foreign study. | College graduates – Employment – United States. | Career development.
Classification: LCC P118.2 .K533 2023 (print) | LCC P118.2 (ebook) | DDC 410.23 – dc23/eng/20230131
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022054168
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022054169
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data
A catalogue entry for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN-13: 978-1-80041-250-7 (hbk)
ISBN-13: 978-1-80041-249-1 (pbk)
Multilingual Matters
UK: St Nicholas House, 31-34 High Street, Bristol, BS1 2AW, UK.
USA: Ingram, Jackson, TN, USA.
Website: www.multilingual-matters.com
Twitter: Multi_Ling_Mat
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/multilingualmatters
Blog: www.channelviewpublications.wordpress.com
Copyright © 2023 Celeste Kinginger and Jingyuan Zhuang.
All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced in any form or by any means without permission in writing from the publisher.
The policy of Multilingual Matters/Channel View Publications is to use papers that are natural, renewable and recyclable products, made from wood grown in sustainable forests. In the manufacturing process of our books, and to further support our policy, preference is given to printers that have FSC and PEFC Chain of Custody certification. The FSC and/or PEFC logos will appear on those books where full certification has been granted to the printer concerned.
Typeset by Riverside Publishing Solutions.
Contents
Figures, Tables and Box
Simplified Transcription Conventions
Acknowledgements
1 Introduction and Literature Review
1.1 Introduction
1.2 Language Learning, Study Abroad and the Post-Sojourn Experience
1.3 Key Elements in the History of US Study Abroad
1.4 Conclusion
2 Research Design
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Survey Development
2.3 Life History Typology Development
2.4 Gathering and Analyzing Interview Data
2.5 Conclusion
3 Using Languages at Work
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Using Languages at Work by the Numbers
3.3 The Qualities of Language Use at Work Among Study Abroad Alumni
3.4 Conclusion
4 Discovering a Calling
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Career Impact of Study Abroad by the Numbers
4.3 Discovering a Calling
4.4 Conclusion
5 Quests for Identity
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Motives for Language Learning and Study Abroad
5.3 Quests for Identity
5.4 Conclusion
6 Exploring Features of Study Abroad Programs
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Background: Contexts for Language Learning
6.3 Program Duration
6.4 Residence Options
6.5 Returning Home
6.6 Conclusion
7 Multilingual Dispositions and Lessons for Life
7.1 Introduction
7.2 Snapshots of Language Immersion Over Time During Study Abroad for Anglophone Students
7.3 Becoming a Better Speaker of English as a Lingua Franca
7.4 Unpredicted Benefits of Language Learning
7.5 Conclusion
8 Conclusion
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Highlights
8.3 Insights for Research
8.4 Insights for Education
8.5 Insights for Policy
8.6 Insights for the Public
8.7 Limitations of the Study
8.8 Conclusion
Appendices
Appendix A: Full Version of the Survey
Appendix B: List of Project Partners
Appendix C: Topical Interview Guide
References
Figures, Tables and Box
Figures
2.1 Overall flow of the survey
2.2 An example of a modalities map created by MCA
2.3 An example of an individuals map created by MCA
5.1 Reasons for language study as a function of age
5.2 Motives for study abroad
6.1 Contexts for language learning
6.2 Generational changes in contexts for language learning
6.3 Duration of study abroad programs by time period
Tables
2.1 List of the 10 most common providers of study abroad programs in the sample
2.2 Sources of funding for study abroad programs
2.3 List of the 10 most common destinations for study abroad in the sample
2.4 List of the 10 most common languages in the sample
2.5 Operationalization of SA participants’ life pathways
2.6 Participant details and study abroad destinations
3.1 Study abroad and ability to use language for school or work
3.2 Work sectors of survey respondents
4.1 Descriptives for survey questions about the career impact of study abroad
4.2 Descriptives for survey questions about the career impact of study abroad as a function of age
5.1 Reasons for language study
6.1 Residence options during study abroad
6.2 Residence options during study abroad by respondents’ age
6.3 Descriptives for survey questions about returning home after study abroad
Box
2.1 Celeste Kinginger’s social history and cognitive–emotional position
Simplified Transcription Conventions
Acknowledgements
A project of this scope and ambition would not have been possible without the support of many generous individuals and institutions.
Our sincere thanks go to the many individuals who took time from their schedules to complete our survey, and in particular to the 54 people who agreed to be interviewed for the project. Those who did not choose to remain anonymous include: Dr Bonnie Bisonnette, Valerie Buss-McNeill, Hailey Crowel, Dr Thomas Edell, Courtney Hale, Carmen Hernandez, Alexander Johnson, Dr Patrick Kelley, Mary Lambrecht, Andrea Levy, Hugh Lugg, Dr Laura McLary, Amelia Parenteau, Pamela Patterson, Anna Petrovskis, Dr Heather Rice, Peter Schmitt, Dr Kelsey Thrush, Antonia Zunarelli.
We are grateful for the contributions of Robert W. Schrauf and Kevin McManus, our colleagues in the Department of Applied Linguistics at the Pennsylvania State University. Robert W. Schrauf inspired the project’s mixed-methods design and led the effort to develop the life pathways typology at its core.
American Councils for International Education, particularly Dan E. Davidson and Nadra Garas, provided invaluable assistance in the design and administration of the survey. The Forum on Education Abroad, especially Amelia Dietrich, led our survey recruitment effort with grace and aplomb. WPSU Public Television, specifically James Espy and Mindy McMahon, expertly produced our series of companion video profiles. These are housed by The Forum on Education Abroad https://forumea.org/resources/data-collection/careers-of-language-study-abroad-alumni-a-comprehensive-investigation/ .
Sincere thanks also to Angela Tejada, our research assistant, and to the friends and colleagues who provided critical reviews of earlier drafts: Jeannette Bragger, Maryse Genier, Rosamond Mitchell and Rémi Adam van Compernolle. An anonymous reviewer also offered constructive and useful comments that advanced some of the arguments presented in this volume.
We are grateful to Professor Hirofumi Hosokawa for providing a clear and detailed explanation of Japanese politeness practices and to Scott McGinnis for help in recruiting through the Interagency Language Roundtable.
The project’s Advisory Board included three prominent figures in international education and language learning, namely Maritheresa Frain, John Lucas and Meg Malone. We appreciate the expert guidance they provided, especially in the early stages of the project.
This research was developed under a grant from the US Department of Education. However, the contents do