New article: Politics of identification in student mobility

“Globalization, Facebook and the spread of English as a lingua franca have changed the nature and the purpose of the study abroad experience. This rich collection of empirical studies exquisitely showcases how a socially oriented applied linguistics can grasp the important social and cultural aspects of study abroad in a variety of languages and countries, and through a variety of research methodologies.”

— Claire Kramsch, University of California at Berkeley

“Study abroad was once seen as a monolithic good for what ails foreign language learners, but recent research reveals a more nuanced view indicating the extraordinary complexity of how and what students may or may not learn during a study abroad experience. This volume continues down the path of revelationby gathering original empirical investigations of study abroad experiences, each of which adds a unique layer of texture to a more accurate picture of study abroad today. Authors engage with current realities of study abroad in an international context,where language study is permeated by politics, power relations, technologies, identities, and motives. To study these dynamic contexts, researchers draw upon theoretical frameworks andresearch methodologies that examine how learners demonstrate their agency, engaging with the study abroad context tocommunicate and construct their own study abroad experiences. In my view, this very timely collection challenges foreign language teachers to consider how students can best be prepared for the complex opportunities and challenges presented by study abroad.”

— Carol A. Chapelle, Iowa State University

“Kinginger offers us an impressive collection of studies highlighting the ways in which newer sociocultural and poststructuralist approaches renew the research on study abroad. Component studies focus on diverse populations, and multiple languages and contexts, featuring innovative research methods. Social and cultural aspects are given pride of place including a fascinating section on identity and pragmatics. The reader takes away invaluable insights about the unique contributions of study abroad research to educators and applied linguists, and exciting ideas about how build on this research. This book is a gem!”

— Merrill Swain, University of Toronto