EXPLORING LANGUAGE GROWTH IN FULBRIGHT FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHING ASSISTANTS: A CORRELATIONAL ANALYSIS

Year 2025, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 1 - 25, 29.10.2024

Çiğdem Fidan , Mohamed Bouaissane

Abstract

An increase in language development is an expected outcome of international exchange programs. However, research studies on linguistic outcomes of international exchange programs are limited. This study explores the influence of participating in the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program on the English language development of the program sojourners. The study examines the impact of internal or external factors, participants' characteristics, and the program's social affordances on the participants’ English language learning outcomes. Through an explanatory sequential mixed methods research design, the study gathers quantitative data from a convenience sample of 164
articipants and qualitative data from a purposive sample of 10 participants. It uses thematic analysis through MAXQDA and correlation and multiple linear regression through SPSS to analyse the data. The study found that the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program positively influences the program participants' English language development. The study also found that competence in using English and intercultural communicative competence are the most prominent direct outcomes of participating in the program. The study concludes that the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program provides a culturally and linguistically rich environment for the language development of the program participants. The study suggests host institutions integrating culture and language-enriching pre- and in-program activities and orientations to support English language development of the Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant program participants.

Keywords

Fulbright FLTA, Language development;, Intercultural communicative competence, ; Mixed method research

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