El year abroad al dominilingüístic català

Anàlisi del paisatge lingüístic i les oportunitats d’aprenentatge i ús de la llengua dels estudiants britànics

Abstrakt

THE YEAR ABROAD IN THE CATALAN-SPEAKING REGIONS: ANALYSIS OF THE LINGUISTIC

This study analyses the experience of Catalan language students from the United Kingdom who undertake the year abroad in a Catalan speaking territory. The main objective is to examine their exposure to the language and opportunities for its use through the linguistic landscape. Through the analysis of participants’ perceptions, the article provides an overview of the presence of the language in different contexts. It identifies the most favorable environments for improving language proficiency and proposes measures to enhance the linguistic and cultural immersion of university students visiting the territory. One of the aims of the research is to characterise the academic stays of British students of Catalan, considering the type of program, the host region, and the duration. Sociolinguistic and sociocultural aspects that influence the experience in the host territory — and consequently, linguistic and intercultural development are also explored. With a primarily descriptive approach, data were collected from 65 Catalan language students from eleven universities in England and Wales who graduated between 2018 and 2025. The results indicate that most students choose Catalonia, particularly Barcelona. Contact with Catalan is significant despite the presence of Spanish. The use of Catalan brings important benefits, suggesting that proficiency in the language fosters deeper learning opportunities and integration during the stay.