Effects of studying abroad during high school - A reanalysis of the LAU study

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Benjamin Nagengast
• Subject Area: Education Systems and Educational Institutions ; General and Domain-Specific Teaching and Learning
• Term: from 2016 to 2019
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 316304274

• Final Report Year: 2020

Final Report Abstract

It has become increasingly important to have good English-language skills in a globalized world. In line with previous research, we found evidence that social background, student achievement, as well as variables related to students’ participation in school and youth groups are important predictors of studying abroad during high school. In addition, we found large positive effects of studying abroad on achievement measures and course choice in English, whereas studying abroad had no effects on outcomes in math. On the basis of these results, studying abroad seems to be a reasonable option for improving language skills and does not come at a price with respect to math skills. However, the opportunity to study abroad seems to be embraced more often by students from high socioeconomic backgrounds, which might foster social disparities.

Publications

• (2018). First insights into studying abroad during high school. Special Interest Group 18 & 23 Meeting of the European Association for Research on Learning and Instruction (EARLI), Groningen, Netherlands
  Hübner, N., Trautwein, U., & Nagengast, B.
  
• (2018). I’ll be off then. Central predictors of studying abroad during high-school. German Society for Empirical Educational Research (GEBF) Meeting, Basel, Switzerland
  Hübner, N., Trautwein, U., & Nagengast, B.
  
• (2019). Studying abroad during high school: Determinants and effects. Society for Research on Educational Effectiveness (SREE) Meeting, Washington, D.C., USA
  Hübner, N., Trautwein, U., & Nagengast, B.