First Advisor

Nike Arnold

Date of Publication

1-1-2011

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.) in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Department

Applied Linguistics

Language

English

Subjects

Homestay, Student beliefs, Housing abroad, Language and languages -- Study and teaching -- Foreign speakers, Foreign study -- Research, Host families of foreign students, College students -- Attitudes

DOI

10.15760/etd.289

Physical Description

1 online resource (v, 120 p.)

Abstract

Language students studying abroad are presented with multiple housing options. Living with a host family in a homestay is widely believed to be the most beneficial option. However, little research has been done as to how students' beliefs about homestays may affect their choice of housing. In this study, 116 language students completed the Student Beliefs About Homestays Questionnaire. Quantitative and qualitative data analyses indicated that students value homestays not only for the opportunity for language acquisition, but also for the inside look at the family life and culture of the host country and for the support a family setting provides. Student beliefs about negative aspects of homestays (such as the possibility of being placed with a bad family) and the role of the homestay placement program were also investigated; several practical implications were drawn for staff in homestay placement programs and language institutions that may improve the homestay experience.

Rights

In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Comments

Portland State University. Dept. of Applied Linguistics

Persistent Identifier

http://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/7104

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