Early Childhood Pre-Professionals’ Experience in a Study Abroad Program to Finland: Evaluation of Professional Growth, and Personal and Cultural Gains

• Published in: International journal for the scholarship of teaching and learning Vol. 13; no. 2
• Main Authors: Zhang, Bingbing, Szente, Judit, Levin, Judith
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Centers for Teaching & Technology at Georgia Southern University 29.05.2019; Georgia Southern University
• Subjects: Cultural Awareness; Diaries; early childhood education; Foreign Countries; Individual Development; Learning Experience; Outcomes of Education; Phenomenology; pre-professionals; Preschool Teachers; Preservice Teachers; Professional Development; Social Systems; Student Attitudes; Study Abroad; Teacher Education Programs; Finland
• ISSN: 1931-4744; 1931-4744
• DOI: 10.20429/ijsotl.2019.130216

The present study explores the experiences of fifteen Early Childhood pre-professionals on a University lead short-term study abroad program to Finland. The purpose of the study was to investigate the impact of the 10-day-long experience on students' attitudes and perceptions particularly on their professional growth, personal, and cultural gains. Daily reflective journals entries and questionnaires were used to capture insights of the phenomena. Data were collected prior to, during, and after the program. This phenomenological study also employed audio taped interviews to provide summaries of their experiences in Finland. Horizontalization was used and three emerging themes were explained. Conclusions and recommendations are provided for future studies.