Language and Cultural Learning in a Short-Term Study Abroad: An Investigation of Japanese Sojourners in Canada

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine whether four weeks of short-term study abroad (SA) was effective in promoting second language (L2) proficiency gain, the development of affect such as L2 willingness to communicate (WTC) and L2 motivation, and a reduction in L2 anxiety. This study investigated proficiency test results and multiple questionnaire results collected before and after the four-week SA experience. 29 Japanese university students studying English in Canada participated in the study. The results showed that the participants made gains in L2 proficiency, developed L2 WTC and L2 motivation, and reduced L2 anxiety levels after studying abroad for four weeks in Canada. This study is a part of a bigger longitudinal research project, in which short-term SA in traditional destinations such as Canada, and short-term SA in non-English speaking destinations such as the Philippines are compared.