Have students interview study-abroad returnees to learn about living abroad first hand¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · no claims cited

Description¶

Students prepare interview questions—beginners supported by structured question-writing tasks such as sentence-ordering worksheets—and interview returnees about their experiences overseas. The authors write that "Interviewing 'returnees' about their time in another country provides an opportunity for students to hear first hand about the experience of traveling overseas and serves to heighten their awareness of what it is like to live abroad." Returnees also model attainable English proficiency.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Structured question-writing tasks for beginner-level students; returnees fluent enough to communicate in English with relative ease.

Constraints¶

• Used in upper-level elective or required freshmen courses in a Japanese university setting.

Target Learners¶

• Japanese university EFL students, beginner to intermediate

Target Learning Goals¶

• cross-cultural awareness
• interviewing and question-formulation skills
• target language practice

Related Strategies¶

• Use structured e-mail exchanges with target-language peers to build cross-cultural interest and motivation
• Using Empathy Interviews for Family Engagement

Examples¶

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Key Sources¶

• Murray, G. L., & Bollinger, D. J. (2001). Developing Cross-Cultural Awareness: Learning Through the Experiences of Others. TESL Canada Journal, 19(1). https://teslcanadajournal.ca. doi:10.18806/tesl.v19i1.920