The Language Affiliations of Mobile Students in the International University

Item request has been placed! ×
Item request cannot be made. ×
loading   Processing Request
Read More Add to Saved list
  • Author(s): Mitchell, Rosamond; Güvendir, Emre
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    International Journal of Multilingualism. 2023 20(3):966-983.
  • Publication Date:
    2023
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Research
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      18
    • Education Level:
      Higher Education
      Postsecondary Education
    • Subject Terms:
      International Education; Personal Narratives; Study Abroad; Second Language Learning; Higher Education; Language of Instruction; English (Second Language); Multilingualism; Student Mobility; Social Influences; Cultural Influences; Student Attitudes; Native Language; Foreign Students; Friendship; Language Attitudes; Educational Experience; Individual Characteristics; Interpersonal Relationship; Foreign Countries; Second Language Instruction; Cross Cultural Studies
    • Subject Terms:
      Belgium; Turkey; United Kingdom; Croatia; Finland
    • Accession Number:
      10.1080/14790718.2021.1975719
    • ISSN:
      1479-0718
      1747-7530
    • Abstract:
      The internationalisation of higher education has led to widespread adoption of English as a medium of instruction in European universities, and this strategy is supporting increasingly diverse student mobility. Many students undertaking short-term Erasmus+ mobility see this as an opportunity to develop their English language skills but may lack interest in learning locally significant languages. However, contemporary universities are complex multilingual spaces. This paper explores how far mobile students' language affiliations are aligned to languages' wider geopolitical significance, and how far they are influenced by personal and sociocultural factors, and the study abroad (SA) experience itself. The study draws on a corpus of narrative interviews with mobile students in diverse European settings. Participants generally sustained strong affiliations with English. Affiliations with other international languages were more mixed. Some expressed a heightened affiliation to their home language arising from SA experience; others described new affiliations arising from local contacts and student friendships, with a local language, or with other international students' L1. Overall, the study found that language affiliations showed some flexibility, and might derive from personal biographical factors, cultural values and personal relationships as well as from the instrumental value of internationally significant languages.
    • Abstract:
      As Provided
    • Publication Date:
      2023
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1395115