The relationship between language l

The relationship between language learning in the study abroad context and the rapidly growing numbers of students engaged in overseas academic activity of one kind or another iscomplex. While the growth in absolute numbers of U.S. students overseas is notable, thecurrent level still represents only a very small portion (less than 3%, compared, for example, toclose to 10% of university students in the European Union) of the overall population enrolledin postsecondary institutions. Moreover, the relative proportion of American studentsdevoting substantial academic time in an overseas setting is still very small: only 4.2% of thosewho do study abroad devote a full academic year to overseas study, and a substantial numberof those students reside in English-speaking countries (Open Doors, 2009). Nonetheless, it issignificant that of the 25 top overseas study destinations selected by U.S. students in 2007-2008, 13 are outside Europe and 19 represent countries where English is not a primarylanguage (Open Doors, 2009).