Abstract
This dissertation contributes to fill the gap in studies about Portuguese language learners and heritage learners and the effects of a short-term study abroad program on motivation. Research on study abroad has mostly focused long-term programs and very little research has been done on short-term study abroad programs. To the best of my knowledge, no study has discussed the effect of study abroad programs on foreign and heritage learners of Portuguese. Furthermore, research related to heritage language learning in the U.S. has focused mostly on learners of languages such as Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Few studies have compared learners of Portuguese as a foreign and as a heritage language. Research by Valdés (2001) and Carreira (2004), among others, has shown that heritage and foreign language learners may differ not only in linguistic and cultural backgrounds but also in social and psychological dimensions. However, to date there has been no research related to heritage language learning and study abroad. This dissertation aims to contribute to the field of heritage language learning, as well as Portuguese language learning, by investigating the outcome of a short trip abroad on the motivation of heritage and foreign language learners. To determine if the trip abroad serves as a motivator to learn the language, participants filled out a questionnaire both before and after the(planned) trip. Participants consisted of eight junior university Nursing students. The questionnaire included background information, a language survey profile (adapted from Hernandez, 2010), statements related to motivation, and open-ended questions pertaining to personal motivation, communication, and confidence. Results show that students were motivated because a trip was going to take place; the perspective of the trip abroad made them motivated and willing to communicate in Portuguese. Results also indicate that students feel confident in their ability to communicate with their patients, patient’s families, and their own family after several weeks studying the language and a (planned) short-term study abroad trip.