Σύντομη παραμονή στην Ελλάδα για σπουδές: ο ρόλος της βιωμένης εμπειρίας στην εκμάθηση της Ελληνικής ως Γ2 (Study abroad in Greece: The role of lived experience in the acquisition of Greek as an L2)

The present study explores the impact of Study Abroad (SA) on written skills, beliefs and attitudes in Greek as a foreign language of 41 learners of various proficiency levels who were attending a 6-week summer course in Greece. Data collection took place at the start and at the end of the course. Participants were asked to produce a written composition (opinion essay), the topic of which was specially designed to elicit their reflection on their learning experience with Greek in Greece and at home. Data were analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Participants’ written development was measured in terms of Complexity, Accuracy, Fluency, (CAF), while their reflection was examined through a qualitative, thematic analysis of their written productions. Results showed that SA led to an improvement in written lexical complexity and fluency. It also helped participants to gain awareness on the role of the learning environment in enriching their experiences and broadening their knowledge about the target language.