The effects on the timing of periods of study abroad on Japanese vocabulary development

What is it about?

This study attempts to measure how vocabulary learning proceeds during and after periods of study abroad (while studying Japanese language in an institutional context such as BA degree). The results of various empirical tests show that vocabulary learning benefits from periods of study abroad regardless of whether these take place in year 2 or in year 3 of study, and therefore at different proficiency level. Both cohorts learn vocabulary at a similar ratio (although the cohort studying abroad in year 2 makes comparatively greater gains at an earlier point) and both continue to learn on return from Japan (although at a slower pace). The greater gains of the cohort studying abroad in year 2 can potentially lead to an advantage when the learner continues to engage with the language up to year 4, but other benefits derive from studying abroad in year 3 (better preparedness overall for the year abroad, ability to cope, as well as administrative aspects) which compensate for drawbacks of the latter's group.

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Why is it important?

This study provides an empirical measure of gains in Japanese vocabulary during and after the year abroad: studies of Japanese and studies that look at post-year abroad performance are scarce, and moreover this study - uniquely - compares two patterns of study (study abroad in year 2 vs year 3) in the same institution with the same teaching staff and with a similar syllabus before study abroad.