Encouraging Students to Engage
With Native Speakers During
Study Abroad
Marc Cadd
Drake University
Abstract: Students, their parents, and educators trust that a study-abroad experience
is the best way to increase linguistic profi ciency. The professional literature, however,
shows a much more complex picture. Gains in linguistic profi ciency appear to depend on
variables such as whether the students experience a homestay or dormitory, the length
of time studying abroad, their previous knowledge of the language, etc. Interaction with
native speakers also seems to vary widely. The present article examines whether requiring
students abroad to interact with native speakers improves students’ self-assessed
self-confi dence in using the language, their willingness to use the language, and their
perceived gains in speaking ability.