What Makes Studying Abroad Successful? A Student's Experience of Learning a Third Language

What is it about?

Many students dream of studying abroad, believing that immersion in a new language and culture will automatically lead to success. However, research shows that simply being in a foreign country is not enough—some students improve significantly, while others struggle to make progress. My study tells the real-life story of a Polish student who successfully learned Turkish as a third language (L3) during an Erasmus+ exchange in Turkey. Through her personal narrative, she reflects on her experiences, challenges, and strategies for learning a new language in a foreign environment. Key Insights: 1) Success in language learning abroad depends on motivation, social engagement, and persistence. 2) Students who actively seek out interactions in the target language tend to make more progress. 3) Cultural openness and willingness to adapt play a major role in how well students integrate linguistically. My study highlights the importance of personal effort, motivation, and strategic learning in making a study-abroad experience truly effective.

Featured Image

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Photo by JESHOOTS.COM on Unsplash

Why is it important?

1) It challenges the myth that studying abroad guarantees language learning success. Not all students improve just by being in a foreign country—success depends on personal engagement. 2) It focuses on third language (L3) learning. Most studies focus on learning a second language (L2), but this study provides insights into learning an additional language in a new cultural setting. 3) It uses a personal narrative approach. Rather than relying on standardized tests, this study captures the student’s real emotions, strategies, and challenges, offering a human perspective on language learning abroad. 4) It provides practical lessons for students and educators. Teachers can better prepare students for studying abroad by emphasizing social interaction, cultural immersion, and proactive learning strategies.

Perspectives

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I hope this study encourages students to approach their time abroad not just as an opportunity to be exposed to a language, but as a challenge to actively engage with it.

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