Cross-cultural adaptability and development of speech act production in study abroad

This study investigated a relationship between cross-cultural adaptability and development of speech act production during a semester study abroad. Participants were 22 learners of Japanese at a Japanese university. Cross-cultural adaptability subsuming four dimensions (emotional resilience, flexibility/openness, perceptual acuity, and personal autonomy) was measured using a 50-item survey (Cronbach's alpha = 0.88). Speech act production was measured with a speaking test involving 10 scenarios eliciting speech acts with different formality levels. The test was given at the beginning and end of the semester. Native Japanese speakers evaluated speech samples on appropriateness of speech style (polite and plain forms) and appropriateness of speech act. A significant relationship was found between cross-cultural adaptability and gains in the appropriateness of speech act but not speech style.