Assessing the Effects of Short-Term Culture and Language Immersion Program: A Hong Kong Case

Abstract

<p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The current study examines the effects of a four-week short-term culture and language immersion program. The Program involves four key curricular components and covered three phases: the pre-trip planning and preparations, implementation of the Program, and the post-trip debriefings. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">D</span><span style="font-size: medium;">ata were collected prior to, during, and after the students’ taking their four-week immersion program. A 360-degree assessment of the Program was employed to evaluate its effectiveness. The assessment involves </span><span style="font-size: medium;">triangulation of </span><span style="font-size: medium;">quantitative and qualitative data. </span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Two statistical measurements (Analysis and Variance and Pearson Correlation Coefficient tests) were employed to assess the Program effectiveness. </span><span style="font-size: medium;">The results show that the for-week short-term culture and language immersion program achieved all its learning objectives.</span><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: medium;">By all measures, the students experienced increased confidence in using English, demonstrated a greater awareness of culture, were able to identify and explain cultural differences between Hong Kong and the host culture, and learned to apply language learning strategies and to begin to develop intercultural communication skills.</span></span></p>