Spanish Language Acquisition and Cultural Acceptance Benefits of Study Abroad Trips for Fifth Grade Students

Abstract

Spanish language acquisition and cultural acceptance benefits of study abroad trips for fifth grade students looked at the benefits of being bilingual, especially at an early age, and the benefits of study abroad programs. Bilingual education can have study abroad programs as a capstone to the classroom experience for the students. While research is inconclusive about the tangible benefits for teenagers and young adults who study abroad, the study of fifth grade students and their study abroad trips has not been previously measured. This mixed methods research found that the fifth grade students who studied abroad for four or eight weeks returned home with better grades, better second language acquisition, and increased independence in the classroom and at home in comparison to their peers who did not study abroad.