Language learning in a study-abroad context: Research agenda

Isabelli-Garciá, Bown, Plew & Dewey (forthcoming) presented the 'state of the art' in research on language learning abroad. Beginning with Carroll's (1967) claim that 'time spent abroad is one of the most potent variables' predicting second language (L2) abilities (p. 137), the scope of study-abroad research has grown multifold in guiding theoretical frameworks, empirical methods, and objects of examination. A half-century of work surveyed in Isabelli-Garciá et al.'s review reveals diverse goals of investigation, ranging from studies focusing on documenting learning outcomes, to studies aiming to unveil the process and nature of learning in a study-abroad context.