Copyright by Tatiana Borisovna Segura 2008 - The University of ...

that might help female students overcome the culture specific gender bias include
modifying dress habits to conform to the local cultural norms, using the support of the
group, choosing to stay for a longer duration, and informing themselves about gender-
related peculiarities of the target culture before the sojourn abroad.
Carlson et al. also examined gender as an individual and sojourn-related variable
that has an effect on the variation in study abroad outcomes. When studying linguistic
changes as a result of study abroad trips, they found gender to be “the single most
powerful predictor of language change” (78). “Prior to the study abroad year, the males
were substantially lower than the females in foreign language proficiency. By end of the
sojourn, however, the males made gains that brought them up to the level of the females”
(78). Unfortunately, Carlson et al. do not elaborate on the underlying factors that
produced such a variety in the linguistic gains of male and female participants in their
study.
Pellegrino Aveni discusses how the gender of the native speakers of the target
language impacts language learners’ willingness to practice target language in a study
abroad setting in Russia (79-86). She contends that both students’ personal experiences
and the existing target culture gender stereotypes influence students’ preference for
interacting with individuals of a specific gender. The pre-departure questionnaire data
from Pellegrino Aveni’s research reveals that when asked if they preferred to speak
Russian with females or males, 86. 5 percent of the language learners reported that they
preferred speaking to Russian women rather than Russian men. The results of the post-
program questionnaire did not differ greatly from the initial results. Pellegrino Aveni
concludes that many female students notice culture specific gender stereotypes that exist
in Russia (for example, that females are supposed to be more passive than men), and this
fact contributes to the uncertainty on how to behave with representatives of the opposite
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