Document Type

Article

Peer Reviewed

1

Publication Date

4-1-2013

Scholarship Domain(s)

Scholarship of Discovery; Scholarship of Teaching and Learning

Abstract

The purpose of the Predeparture and Reentry Needs project was to examine the reentry adjustment of Olivet Nazarene University (ONU) Spanish students who had already returned home from required study abroad experiences in order to craft predeparture and reentry programs based on findings. In Phase 1, the researcher recorded qualitative interviews in March and April of 2012 with 22 ONU undergraduate students who studied abroad in Spanish-speaking countries before the spring 2012 semester. Then the researcher listened to each interview again, taking notes on each and transcribing quotes. The researcher found that all students experienced some level and kind of dissonance upon reentering the United States. Most students indicated that a reentry program would be beneficial. In Phase 2, the researcher used interview findings and secondary research to create reentry and predeparture handbooks and facilitated reentry and predeparture programs on October 11, 2012 and December 7, 2012, respectively. Program participants filled out evaluation surveys immediately after each program. The survey responses were very positive overall, especially those for the reentry program, indicating that such programs should be continued in the future.

Comments

Honors Capstone Project completed in 2013 for Olivet Nazarene University.

Rachel M. (Groters) Wheeler

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