Activity Theory-based Narrative Inquiry of Study-Abroad Program Experiences: A Case Study of Two College Students

Kim Eun Ju (김은주)

Activity Theory-based Narrative Inquiry of Study-Abroad Program Experiences: A Case Study of Two College Students

Modern English Education
Abbr : MEESO
2014, 15(3), pp.1-20
Publisher : The Modern English Education Society
Research Area : Humanities > English Language and Literature > English Language Teaching

Kim Eun Ju ¹

¹한양여자대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

Utilizing narratives from diaries, this case study explores Korean college students'participation in a short-term study-abroad program from an activity theoreticperspective. In particular, the interest of the study is the participants' construction andreconstruction of their daily experiences centered on their motivation for programparticipation and its relation with the goals they set. Through the description of thedynamic nature of their experience building, the study identifies the factors influencingand being influenced by the participant's study-abroad experience. Two female college students were the participants of the study. Their diary entries were used as the primary data set. Pre- and post- program interviews and other relevant documents (e.g., program orientation materials, class materials, brochures, etc.) were collected as well. The collected data were coded and categorized through constant comparative methods (Bogdan & Biklen, 2003). Findings show that the motivation for program participation substantially influences their program participation behavior and attitude andsubsequently the quality of their experience. The findings simultaneously reveal theparticipants' home stay experience as a major social-environmental factor whichcontributes greatly to shaping each participant's journey of study-abroad experiences. Based on these findings, the study provides the implications and suggestions for what program designers and college officials should consider when planning a study-abroad program.

KEYWORDS

Short-term study-abroad program, activity thoery, diary as narraive, college students

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2023 are currently being built.

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