Degree Date

1-2017

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Russian

Abstract

The present study examines data on outcomes from two federally funded programs for overseas critical language learning by American students. The subjects (N = 452) comprise young-adult participants in the Russian Overseas Flagship (N = 126) from AY 2004-05 to 2014-15 and late-adolescent participants in the summer and year programs of the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) from 2013-2015 and from AY 2011-2012 to 2014-15, respectively. NSLI-Y participants include students in the Arabic academic year program (N = 47), the Chinese academic year program (N = 78), the Russian academic year program (N = 57), and the eight-week Russian summer program (N = 144). Variables affecting gains are considered using pre-program and post-program reading, listening, and OPI values. Questions of relative language difficulty among Arabic, Chinese, and Russian; gender-based effects within specific language programs; and cross-modal interactions for participants of the Russian programs are addressed.

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