Language learning at the dinner table: Two case studies of French homestays

• Published in: Foreign language annals Vol. 52; no. 4; pp. 850 - 872
• Main Authors: Kinginger, Celeste, Carnine, Julia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria Wiley-Blackwell 01.12.2019; American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages
• Subjects: Audio Equipment; Case Studies; case study; Classroom Communication; culture; Family Environment; Family Relationship; Family Role; Folk Culture; Food; Foreign Countries; French; Intercultural Communication; Language Acquisition; Language Proficiency; Language Styles; Language Variation; Learning Experience; Second Language Instruction; Second Language Learning; Sociocultural Patterns; Sociolinguistics; Study Abroad; France
• ISSN: 0015-718X; 1944-9720
• DOI: 10.1111/flan.12431

Drawing on Vygotsky's insights on the sociocultural origins of development, we examine the French homestay as a site for learning, with a focus on the dinner table. Based on audio recordings of mealtime interactions, interviews, and field notes, we present two case studies of French language learners and their host families. “Amelia” lived for one semester with an “empty nest” couple whose prior experience of interacting with learners had shaped a distinct folk pedagogical style. “Irène” was hosted for a full academic year by a family of four; over the course of the year, her hosts continually and explicitly assisted her involvement in multiparty family talk thus fostering Irène's ability to display a locally appropriate participatory conversational style. Our findings underscore the importance of attending to the host family's role and contribute to the evidence suggesting that communicative repertoires emerge from, and are shaped by, particular experiences of communication. The Challenge The homestay is widely believed to be a productive context for language learners abroad, yet research has not yielded evidence for a homestay advantage. What kinds of interactions take place in homestay settings? What approaches do hosts take to promote language development for their guests?