Abstract:

Short-term language study abroad programs offer excellent opportunities for students to immerse themselves in the target language and culture. These immersion experiences are often thought of as enriching, life-changing, and transformational. Additionally, the abroad site plays the role of a source that provides experiential learning opportunities. In addition to the benefits of study abroad programs, students need to receive assistance on how to interact utilizing the target language and culture appropriately. Not all students who want to go abroad have the necessary skills to interact naturally in the target language while abroad. Thus, upon arrival at the study abroad site, students need some time to acclimate and to slowly find their place in the new culture while refining their language skills. This paper discusses how students participating in a short-term language study abroad program also participated in a series of guided task-based language activities. Furthermore, this discussion includes a detailed account of the process of selection of language tasks and how students prepared to participate in completing these language tasks. Moreover, this paper addresses pedagogical implications so that educators in different fields may replicate the implementation of task-based activities for their students. The presenter will facilitate lesson samples and materials related to the preparation process of a series of task-based language activities.

Keywords:

Task-based, language, activities, study abroad.