Erin A. Mikulec - Böcker

Education abroad is an essential part of the university student experience. Initiatives such as IIE’s Generation Study Abroad encourage more U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study abroad. According to the Open Doors 2019 Report by the Institute for International Education (IIE), 341,751 students participated in post-secondary education abroad programs during the 2017/2018 academic year. This figure represents an increase of 2.7% of U.S. students studying abroad from the previous year. Research shows that education abroad provides students with opportunities not only to see the world but also to develop intercultural competence, which is increasingly crucial in the 21st century workplace. There are also numerous studies that show gains in autonomy, confidence, and tolerance for ambiguity in students who complete some type of study abroad experience. In sum, the education abroad experience in itself represents a powerful learning environment that continues to support personal and professional development long after returning home. Nonetheless, these learning environments must be cultivated along with faculty who develop and lead programs, as well as university partners and providers. Furthermore, education abroad programming and assessment is complex and must take into consideration many factors including academic goals, purposeful curricular development, and a balance between academics and leisure activities on site.This book explores the many aspects of education abroad as a learning environment, such as student learning outcomes, faculty development, and program assessment and evaluation. In addition, several chapters present education abroad experiences as a model for community engagement and activism. The authors represent a diverse range of institutions and perspectives and discuss programs around the globe. The book represents the voices of faculty that lead education abroad programs, students who participate in them, and also those of international students on a U.S. campus reflecting on their personal experiences abroad. Furthermore, this book contributes to the discussion of best practices to assist faculty and program directors in creating robust education abroad programs that meet the needs of their students and institutions.

Education abroad is an essential part of the university student experience. Initiatives such as IIE’s Generation Study Abroad encourage more U.S. undergraduate and graduate students to study abroad. According to the Open Doors 2019 Report by the Institute for International Education (IIE), 341,751 students participated in post-secondary education abroad programs during the 2017/2018 academic year. This figure represents an increase of 2.7% of U.S. students studying abroad from the previous year. Research shows that education abroad provides students with opportunities not only to see the world but also to develop intercultural competence, which is increasingly crucial in the 21st century workplace. There are also numerous studies that show gains in autonomy, confidence, and tolerance for ambiguity in students who complete some type of study abroad experience. In sum, the education abroad experience in itself represents a powerful learning environment that continues to support personal and professional development long after returning home. Nonetheless, these learning environments must be cultivated along with faculty who develop and lead programs, as well as university partners and providers. Furthermore, education abroad programming and assessment is complex and must take into consideration many factors including academic goals, purposeful curricular development, and a balance between academics and leisure activities on site.This book explores the many aspects of education abroad as a learning environment, such as student learning outcomes, faculty development, and program assessment and evaluation. In addition, several chapters present education abroad experiences as a model for community engagement and activism. The authors represent a diverse range of institutions and perspectives and discuss programs around the globe. The book represents the voices of faculty that lead education abroad programs, students who participate in them, and also those of international students on a U.S. campus reflecting on their personal experiences abroad. Furthermore, this book contributes to the discussion of best practices to assist faculty and program directors in creating robust education abroad programs that meet the needs of their students and institutions.

A Critical Examination of Language and Community is the sixth volume of the Readings in Language Studies series published by the International Society for Language Studies, Inc. Edited by Paul Chamness Miller, Brian G. Rubrecht, Erin A. Mikulec, and Cu-Hullan Tsuyoshi McGivern, volume six sustains the society's mission to organize and disseminate the work of its contributing members through peer-reviewed publications. The book presents international perspectives on language and community through a variety of themes. A resource for scholars and students, A Critical Examination of Language and Community represents the latest scholarship in new and emergent areas of inquiry. Readings in Language Studies, Volume 6: A Critical Examination of Language and Community features international contributions that represent state-of-the-field reviews, multi-disciplinary perspectives, theory-driven syntheses of current scholarship, reports of new empirical research, and criti- cal discussions of major topics centered on the intersection of language and community. Consistent with the mission of ISLS, the collection of 14 chapters in this volume seeks to 'bridge arbitrary disciplinary territories and provide a forum for both theoretical and empirical research, from existing and emergent research methodologies, for exploring the relationships among language, power, discourses, and social practices.'

A Critical Examination of Language and Community is the sixth volume of the Readings in Language Studies series published by the International Society for Language Studies, Inc. Edited by Paul Chamness Miller, Brian G. Rubrecht, Erin A. Mikulec, and Cu-Hullan Tsuyoshi McGivern, volume six sustains the society's mission to organize and disseminate the work of its contributing members through peer-reviewed publications. The book presents international perspectives on language and community through a variety of themes. A resource for scholars and students, A Critical Examination of Language and Community represents the latest scholarship in new and emergent areas of inquiry. Readings in Language Studies, Volume 6: A Critical Examination of Language and Community features international contributions that represent state-of-the-field reviews, multi-disciplinary perspectives, theory-driven syntheses of current scholarship, reports of new empirical research, and criti- cal discussions of major topics centered on the intersection of language and community. Consistent with the mission of ISLS, the collection of 14 chapters in this volume seeks to 'bridge arbitrary disciplinary territories and provide a forum for both theoretical and empirical research, from existing and emergent research methodologies, for exploring the relationships among language, power, discourses, and social practices.'

Readings in Language Studies, Volume 7: Intersections of Peace and Language Studies features international contributions that represent state-of-the-field reviews, multi-disciplinary perspectives, theory-driven syntheses of current scholarship, reports of new empirical research, reflections on pedagogical practices, and critical discussions of major topics centered on the intersection of language studies and peace. Consistent with the mission of ISLS, the collection of 13 chapters in this volume seeks to “bridge these arbitrary disciplinary territories and provide a forum for both theoretical and empirical research, from existing and emergent research methodologies, for exploring the relationships among language, power, discourses, and social practices.”Language and peace are in themselves incredibly complex concepts. They are simultaneously interpersonal in their function and effect as well as intimately personal in their experience. From everyday communication to the pragmatics of world diplomacy, from embracing a foreign culture to embarking upon a journey of self-awareness, language and peace are inseparably intertwined. To reveal their myriad interconnections, in local and global contexts, is a limitless task; nevertheless, we attempt to bring you a few glimpses from far corners of the world. It is also a linguistic and postcolonial mission of this society and the book series to publish the voices of non-native speakers of English. Decolonizing the academic enterprise is part of our commitment to diversity.

Readings in Language Studies, Volume 7: Intersections of Peace and Language Studies features international contributions that represent state-of-the-field reviews, multi-disciplinary perspectives, theory-driven syntheses of current scholarship, reports of new empirical research, reflections on pedagogical practices, and critical discussions of major topics centered on the intersection of language studies and peace. Consistent with the mission of ISLS, the collection of 13 chapters in this volume seeks to “bridge these arbitrary disciplinary territories and provide a forum for both theoretical and empirical research, from existing and emergent research methodologies, for exploring the relationships among language, power, discourses, and social practices.”Language and peace are in themselves incredibly complex concepts. They are simultaneously interpersonal in their function and effect as well as intimately personal in their experience. From everyday communication to the pragmatics of world diplomacy, from embracing a foreign culture to embarking upon a journey of self-awareness, language and peace are inseparably intertwined. To reveal their myriad interconnections, in local and global contexts, is a limitless task; nevertheless, we attempt to bring you a few glimpses from far corners of the world. It is also a linguistic and postcolonial mission of this society and the book series to publish the voices of non-native speakers of English. Decolonizing the academic enterprise is part of our commitment to diversity.

Teacher Education programs have largely ignored the needs of LGBTIQ learners in their preparation of pre-service teachers. At best in most of such programs, their needs are addressed in a single chapter in a book or as the topic of discussion in a single class discussion. However, is this minimal discussion enough? What kind of impact does this approach have on future teachers and their future learners?This book engages the reader in a dialogue about why teacher education must address LGBTIQ issues more openly and why teacher education programs should revise their curriculum to more fully integrate the needs of LGBTIQ learners throughout their curriculum, rather than treat such issues as a single, isolated topic in an insignificant manner. Through personal narratives, research, and conceptual chapters, this volume also examines the different ways in which queer youth are present or invisible in schools, the struggles they face, and how teachers can be better prepared to reach them as they should any student, and to make them more visible. The authors of this volume provide insight into the needs of future teachers with the aim of bringing about change in how teacher education programs address LGBTIQ needs to better equip those entering the field of teaching.