Learning Chinese in a Multilingual Space: An Ecological Perspective on Studying Abroad

This book explores the benefits of an Australian in-country study (ICS) in China program and emphasizes the importance of the space as an arena of interaction, belonging, and power. It focuses on the extent to which the ICS facilitated interaction in different settings, the way in which it contributed to language learning, culture learning, and identity, and argues that Australian students' identities and self-concepts played a core mediating role throughout individual learning trajectories.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 26 May 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book delves into the manifold benefits of an Australian in-country study (ICS) program in China, while also exploring strategies to maximize the short-term ICS experience within a multilingual context. Adopting an ecological perspective, which is rarely applied to the study abroad realm, the book underscores the significance of space as an interactive, belonging, and power-laden arena, where conduct and modes of communication are frequently governed by political authorities and societal expectations.

In particular, the book delves into the following key aspects:

• The extent to which the ICS facilitated interaction in various settings.
• The ways in which interaction during ICS contributed to language learning.
• The degree to which interaction during ICS contributed to culture learning.
• The role of identity in the learning process within the ICS.

The central thesis of the book posits that while the ICS created a multilingual learning environment for both in-class and out-of-class interactions, further enhancing language and culture learning, the identities and self-concepts of Australian students played a pivotal mediating role throughout individual learning trajectories.

Through extensive research and analysis, the book offers valuable insights into the dynamics of language and culture learning in an international setting, shedding light on the complex interplay between language, culture, and individual development. It serves as a valuable resource for educators, students, and researchers interested in the study abroad experience, multilingualism, and cross-cultural communication.

Weight: 594g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031003066
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022