ERIC Number: ED566920
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2016
Pages: 11
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
SOS Employability: A Support Structure for Language Students
Quince, Eleanor; Minney, James; Medland, Charlotte; Rock, Francesca
Research-publishing.net
It is readily recognised that "study and residence abroad are significant contexts for second language learning and development" (Mitchell, Tracy-Ventura, & McManus, 2015, p. 1), but the Year Abroad (YA) also provides Modern Foreign Language (MFL) students with a unique opportunity to develop personal and professional skills. YA students go through what is often termed a "transformative experience" (British Academy/UCML, 2012). However, the problem of skills self-recognition and articulation remains. Without strong support structures students struggle to understand these skills and how to talk about them. This case study explores the creation of an employability-focussed support structure for MFL undergraduate students centred on preparing for, getting the most out of, and articulating the "soft skills" learnt from the YA. The study presents evidence from three core activities: (1) interviews with YA returners, now final-year students; (2) support through tailored employability modules; and (3) the launch of an interactive online resource for students who are on their YA. A short list of references and links is included. [For the complete volume, "Employability for Languages: A Handbook," see ED566902.]
Descriptors: Second Language Learning, Second Language Instruction, Modern Languages, Transformative Learning, Case Studies, Interviews, Study Abroad, Employment Potential, Undergraduate Students, Student Attitudes, Skill Development, Internship Programs, Foreign Countries, Work Environment, Outcomes of Education
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Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: France; Mexico
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A