Academic Mobility: The Impact of Short-Term Language Courses Abroad on the Development of Language Competences

Abstract

The paper presents the study which examines the modern trends in academic mobility in Russia, as well as in other countries, namely the growing popularity of short-term language courses abroad. It addresses short-term language courses abroad in the framework of the academic mobility program, with its practical part being developed and implemented at Novosibirsk State Pedagogical University. The impact of short-term language programs on the development of language competences is evaluated from students’ perspective. According to the presented data the university level students believe that participation in academic mobility program, realized via short-term courses, changes their attitude towards the target foreign language and culture from neutral to more positive, and has a positive impact on the development of their language competences.