“What am I doing here?”. Estudiantes estadounidenses en Sevilla: expectativas y resultados de su experiencia en study abroad

Abstract

This research aims to deepen into the expectations and outcomes of US students enrolled in study abroad programs in Sevilla. These programs offer standard duration academic opportunities in different countries, which ultimate goal, according to their own declared missions and objectives, are the acquisition or improvement of intercultural competence through learning the language and culture. Different sources give shape to the original motivation for this research. On one side, after 17 years of professional practice in this field, a transformation of the students’ first interests and motivations has been observed, moving from a mere learning of Spanish in Sevilla, to the current trend that prioritizes the experience itself before the new language acquisition. On the other side, it becomes evidente that the students’ expectations before travelling do not have a solid basement and are neither based on the knowledge of the country or city nor on a specific learning goal. Thirly, this uncertainty on the students’ expectations is joined, once in the host land, with the perception on their side about the lack of specific formal training on the side of study abroad professionals, meaning faculty and staff, who work with studens on a daily basis and who are in charge of helping them throughout their stay in Sevilla, ease their learning process and the acquisition or improvement of their intercultural competence. This last fact makes us pay attention not only to what the experience means for students, but also to the other side of the phenomenon, that is, professionals who work closely with them. This tesis has two fundamental pillars: one, the exaustive Literature on intercultural competence, acculturation and study abroad investigation, which create a solid theoretical frame. Two, through questionnaires and interviews made to students and professionals, we collect their testimonies on their previous expectations, their specific 10 training and the outcomes and conclussions about these educational experiences in Sevilla. Three are this work’s main hypothesis. First, that students do not have clear expectations about their educational trip to Sevilla. Second, that professionals have not received previous specific training in order to work as effective cultural bridges or facilitators and third, that there is a cultural gap between both groups due to the lack of training for professionals and information for students. By analyzing results and realate them to the data collected during the study on the field of study abroad review, we will check if these hypothesis are confirmed and which can be the strategies to follow in order to improve this cultural gap and favor both students’ and professionals’ intercultural competence. We will try to determine which are the aspects that need to be paid attention to in order to improve the students experience, previous training and the success or failure in achieving their goals when travelling to Sevilla. Furthermore, we will analyze the professionals’ role as facilitators and the kind of traning they need to receive before they can work as effective cultural bridges. We will last investigate on the importance of empathy and intercultural communication on these educational programs’ ultimate success