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CONTEXT OF LEARNING AND SECOND LANGUAGE FLUENCY IN FRENCH: Comparing Regular Classroom, Study Abroad, and Intensive Domestic Immersion Programs
We compared the acquisition of various dimensions of fluency by 28 students of French studying in three different learning contexts: formal language classrooms in an at home (AH) institution, an intensive summer immersion (IM) program, and a study abroad (SA) setting. For the purpose of oral data co...
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Published in: | Studies in second language acquisition 2004-06, Vol.26 (2), p.275-301 |
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Main Authors: | , , |
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Subjects: | |
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Online Access: | Get full text |
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Summary: | We compared the acquisition of various dimensions of fluency by 28
students of French studying in three different learning contexts:
formal language classrooms in an at home (AH) institution, an intensive
summer immersion (IM) program, and a study abroad (SA) setting. For the
purpose of oral data collection, students participated in oral
interviews (similar to the Oral Proficiency Interview) at the beginning
and the end of the semester and provided information regarding language
use and interactions. Analyses included comparisons of gain scores as a
function of the learning context and as a function of the time reported
using French outside of class. The main findings that reached
statistical significance include: (a) The IM group made significant
gains in oral performance in terms of the total number of words spoken,
in length of the longest turn, in rate of speech, and in speech
fluidity based on a composite of fluidity measures. When compared to
the AH group, the SA group made statistically significant gains only in
terms of speech fluidity but fewer gains than the IM group. The AH
group made no significant gains. (b) The IM students reported that they
spoke and wrote French significantly more hours per week than the other
two groups. The SA group reported using English more than French
(although the difference was not statistically significant) and
reported using significantly more English in out-of-class activities
than the IM group. (c) Multiple regression analyses revealed that
reported hours per week spent writing outside of class was
significantly associated with oral fluidity gains.Appreciation is expressed to a number of organizations and
individuals without whom this project would not have been brought to
completion. Contributions of funding, technical support and expertise, or
both are acknowledged from: ACTFL (Elvira Spender and Robert Vicars);
Carnegie Mellon University (The Office of the President and Bonnie Youngs
in the Department of Modern Languages); The Natural Sciences and Engineering
Research Council of Canada; Concordia University (International Initiatives
Research Program, Office of the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Science);
Concordia University (Randall Halter, Eric Buisson, Christine Brassard,
Eowyn Crisfield, Nilmini de Silva, Sarah Frenkiel, and Heather Wilcox);
Middlebury College (Clara Yu, Michael Katz, Beth Karnes, Kara Gennarelli,
Paula Schwartz, Carol Rifelj, Jean-Claude Redonnet, Guy Spielmann, Beverly
Keim, Anna Sun, |
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ISSN: | 0272-2631 1470-1545 |
DOI: | 10.1017/S0272263104262064 |