Target language use and development and sociocultural and psychological adaptation during study abroad: A systematic narrative review of barriers and facilitators.

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Title: Target language use and development and sociocultural and psychological adaptation during study abroad: A systematic narrative review of barriers and facilitators.
Authors: Devlin, Anne Marie1 amdevlin@ucc.ie, Riordan, Emma1 emma.riordan@ucc.ie, Borràs, Judith1, Victoria Soulé, María1, Köylü, Zeynep1, Nicolaou, Anna1, Vranješ, Sanja Marinov1, Onder-Ozdemir, Neslihan1, Ehrsam, Kristina1, Heinzmann, Sybille1, Kırkgöz, Yasemin1, Magliacane, Annarita1, Takac, Visnja Pavicic1
Source: Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. Apr2026, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p255-288. 34p.
Subject Terms: *Psychological adaptation, *Foreign study, *Foreign language education, *Second language acquisition, Narration, Social adjustment
Abstract (English): Through the lens of Applied Linguistics, this current paper explores and synthesizes findings regarding the interplay between the use and development of the target language of the mobility experience and students' sociocultural and psychological adaptation to the new environment. It does so by adopting a systematic narrative approach. This approach facilitates a wide exploration of the topic, encompassing multiple methodologies and contexts in a non-prescriptive manner. Following an initial search yielding 17,942 returns, 37 papers were deemed suitable for inclusion in the review. Findings firstly indicate that the role of the target language is under-represented in the literature. However, the papers under review highlight the centrality of language issues in erecting barriers to and facilitating adaptation, especially regarding preparation for mobility, relationship building during the sojourn and learner internal factors. It also reveals gaps in the literature regarding the role of technology and the impact of discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Abstract (Spanish): En el marco de la Lingüística Aplicada, este artículo explora y sintetiza hallazgos sobre la interacción entre el uso y el desarrollo de la lengua meta durante experiencias de movilidad, así como la adaptación sociocultural y psicológica de los estudiantes al nuevo entorno. Para ello, se adopta un enfoque narrativo sistemático que permite una exploración exhaustiva del tema, integrando múltiples metodologías y contextos desde una perspectiva no prescriptiva. Tras una búsqueda inicial que arrojó 17.942 resultados, se seleccionaron 37 artículos para su inclusión en la revisión. Los resultados indican, en primer lugar, que el papel de la lengua meta se encuentra insuficientemente representado en los trabajos publicados. No obstante, los estudios analizados ponen de relieve la centralidad de los factores lingüísticos tanto en la generación de barreras como en la facilitación de los procesos de adaptación, especialmente en lo relativo a la preparación para la movilidad, el establecimiento de relaciones durante la estancia en el extranjero y las características individuales del estudiante. Asimismo, la revisión identifica lagunas relevantes en investigaciones previas, en particular en lo que respecta al papel de la tecnología y al impacto de la discriminación. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad is the property of Frontiers Journal, Inc and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Education Research Complete
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  Label: Title
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  Data: Target language use and development and sociocultural and psychological adaptation during study abroad: A systematic narrative review of barriers and facilitators.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Devlin%2C+Anne+Marie%22">Devlin, Anne Marie</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> amdevlin@ucc.ie</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Riordan%2C+Emma%22">Riordan, Emma</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> emma.riordan@ucc.ie</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Borràs%2C+Judith%22">Borràs, Judith</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Victoria+Soulé%2C+María%22">Victoria Soulé, María</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Köylü%2C+Zeynep%22">Köylü, Zeynep</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nicolaou%2C+Anna%22">Nicolaou, Anna</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Vranješ%2C+Sanja+Marinov%22">Vranješ, Sanja Marinov</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Onder-Ozdemir%2C+Neslihan%22">Onder-Ozdemir, Neslihan</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Ehrsam%2C+Kristina%22">Ehrsam, Kristina</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Heinzmann%2C+Sybille%22">Heinzmann, Sybille</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Kırkgöz%2C+Yasemin%22">Kırkgöz, Yasemin</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Magliacane%2C+Annarita%22">Magliacane, Annarita</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Takac%2C+Visnja+Pavicic%22">Takac, Visnja Pavicic</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Frontiers%3A+The+Interdisciplinary+Journal+of+Study+Abroad%22">Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad</searchLink>. Apr2026, Vol. 38 Issue 1, p255-288. 34p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Psychological+adaptation%22">Psychological adaptation</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+study%22">Foreign study</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+language+education%22">Foreign language education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Second+language+acquisition%22">Second language acquisition</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Narration%22">Narration</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Social+adjustment%22">Social adjustment</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract (English)
  Group: Ab
  Data: Through the lens of Applied Linguistics, this current paper explores and synthesizes findings regarding the interplay between the use and development of the target language of the mobility experience and students' sociocultural and psychological adaptation to the new environment. It does so by adopting a systematic narrative approach. This approach facilitates a wide exploration of the topic, encompassing multiple methodologies and contexts in a non-prescriptive manner. Following an initial search yielding 17,942 returns, 37 papers were deemed suitable for inclusion in the review. Findings firstly indicate that the role of the target language is under-represented in the literature. However, the papers under review highlight the centrality of language issues in erecting barriers to and facilitating adaptation, especially regarding preparation for mobility, relationship building during the sojourn and learner internal factors. It also reveals gaps in the literature regarding the role of technology and the impact of discrimination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract (Spanish)
  Group: Ab
  Data: En el marco de la Lingüística Aplicada, este artículo explora y sintetiza hallazgos sobre la interacción entre el uso y el desarrollo de la lengua meta durante experiencias de movilidad, así como la adaptación sociocultural y psicológica de los estudiantes al nuevo entorno. Para ello, se adopta un enfoque narrativo sistemático que permite una exploración exhaustiva del tema, integrando múltiples metodologías y contextos desde una perspectiva no prescriptiva. Tras una búsqueda inicial que arrojó 17.942 resultados, se seleccionaron 37 artículos para su inclusión en la revisión. Los resultados indican, en primer lugar, que el papel de la lengua meta se encuentra insuficientemente representado en los trabajos publicados. No obstante, los estudios analizados ponen de relieve la centralidad de los factores lingüísticos tanto en la generación de barreras como en la facilitación de los procesos de adaptación, especialmente en lo relativo a la preparación para la movilidad, el establecimiento de relaciones durante la estancia en el extranjero y las características individuales del estudiante. Asimismo, la revisión identifica lagunas relevantes en investigaciones previas, en particular en lo que respecta al papel de la tecnología y al impacto de la discriminación. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad is the property of Frontiers Journal, Inc and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Value: 10.36366/frontiers.v38i1.1131
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        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign study
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign language education
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      – SubjectFull: Second language acquisition
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              Text: Apr2026
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