GPA 2009 Fellows Survey

Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad – Advanced Overseas Intensive Language Program

2009 Fellows Survey

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U.S. Department of Education

International Education Programs Service (IEPS)

Survey of 2009 Group Projects Abroad – Advanced Overseas Intensive Language Program Fellows

Introduction

The International Education Programs Service (IEPS) of the U.S. Department of Education (ED) is conducting an assessment of the Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad – Advanced Overseas Intensive Language Program (Overseas Language Program). As part of this assessment, this survey asks about various aspects of experiences as an Overseas Language Program fellow. Your input is critical to understanding how the Overseas Language Program fellowship increases fellows' language proficiency and cultural knowledge and for understanding how the program can be improved.

Survey Instructions

The survey will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. Not all questions in the survey may apply to your experiences as an Overseas Language Program fellow.

If you were awarded more than one Overseas Language Program fellowship, please respond based on your 2009 fellowship.

Your participation in this survey is voluntary and responses will be aggregated when presenting findings to ED and for reporting purposes.

Returning the Survey

Please complete the survey prior to DATE. If you have any questions about the study or would like to request a paper copy of the survey with a pre-addressed, pre-paid envelope, please feel free to contact Ms. Andrea Coombes, Survey Coordinator, by mail, phone, or email:

Andrea Coombes

American Institutes for Research

1000 Thomas Jefferson St., NW

Washington, DC 20007

(202) 403-5278

acoombes@air.org

We look forward to receiving your responses and thank you in advance for your cooperation.

Background and Education

1.	Records from the U.S. Department of Education show that you received a Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Advanced Overseas Intensive Language Program (Overseas Language Program) fellowship in 2009. Is this correct? Please note this question refers only to Overseas Language Program fellowships and does not include Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships.
	a. Yes			Go to 2
	b. No	

If you did not receive an Overseas Language Program fellowship in 2009, you have completed this survey.

Thank you for your feedback!

If you have received an Overseas Language Program fellowship more than once, only provide information about your 2009 fellowship.

2.	Please select from the following list the Overseas Language Program from which you were awarded a 2009 fellowship:

Overseas Language Program	Check one
a. American Councils: Eurasian Regional Language Program	
b. American Councils: Russian Overseas Flagship Program	
c. American Councils: Advanced Russian Language and Area Studies Program	
d. American Councils: Summer Teachers Program	
e. Council on International Educational Exchange: Overseas Intensive Chinese Language Programs in Beijing	
f. Council on International Educational Exchange: Overseas Intensive Chinese Language Programs in Shanghai	
g. Council on International Educational Exchange: Overseas Intensive Chinese Language Programs in Nanjing	
h. Council on International Educational Exchange: Overseas Intensive Chinese Language Programs in Taipei	
i. Bard College: Summer Chinese Program	
j. Hamilton University: Associated Colleges in China Intensive Chinese Language & Culture Program	
k. Hamilton University: Associated Colleges in China Summer Field Studies	
l. Hamilton University: Associated Colleges in China Summer K-12 Chinese Teachers Training Institute	
m. Ohio University: Advanced Indonesian Program Abroad	
n. Princeton University: American Research Institutes in Turkey Advanced Turkish Program	
o. Stanford University: Inter-University Center for Japanese Language Studies	
p. UC Berkeley: UC Berkeley Urdu Language Program	
q. UC Berkeley: Vietnamese Advanced Studies Abroad (VASI)	
r. University of Chicago: American Institute of Indian Studies	
s. University of Florida: Yoruba Language Group Project Abroad (GPA) In Nigeria	
t. University of Georgia: Summer Intensive Advanced Swahili Language Training in Tanzania	
u. University of Hawaii-Manoa: Advanced Study of Khmer Program	
v. University of Hawaii-Manoa: Advanced Filipino Language Training in Philippines	
w. University of Pennsylvania: Advanced Zulu Language Training in South Africa	
x. University of Pittsburgh: Center for Russian and East European Studies	
y. University of Texas at Austin: Center for Arabic Studies Abroad	
z. University of Virginia: UVA Yarmouk Arabic Program	
aa. University of Washington: Advanced Study of Thai Program	
bb. University of Wisconsin-Madison: Advanced Indonesian Program Abroad	
cc. Valparaiso University: Chinese Program	
dd. Yale University: Advanced Zulu Language Training in South Africa	
ee. Other, please specify:	

3.	Gender
	a. Female	
	b. Male	

4.

Birth date

	MM		DD		YYYY

5.	Are you Hispanic or Latino?
	a. Yes	
	b. No	

6.	What is your race?

Race	Check one or more
a. White	
b. Black or African American	
c. Asian	
d. American Indian or Alaska Native	
e. Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander	

7.	What language or languages did you speak before starting elementary school?

Language	Check all that apply
a. English	
b. Other, please specify:	

8.	Please list the school, college, or university you were attending or teaching at when you were awarded a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellowship:

9.	Are you still attending or teaching at this school, college, or university?
	a. Yes	
	b. No	

10.	Please select one of the following options that best reflects your status when you were awarded a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellowship.

Status	Check one
a. Undergraduate freshman	
b. Undergraduate sophomore	
c. Undergraduate junior	
d. Undergraduate senior	
e. Graduate student: Master’s Degree (e.g., M.A., M.S., M.B.A.) Year in program: year	
f. Graduate student: Doctoral Degree (e.g., Ph.D., Ed.D., M.D., J.D.) Year in program: year	
g. Teacher (not enrolled in school), specify field: _____________________________________________________	 Skip to 18
h. Teaching Assistant (not enrolled in school), specify field: _____________________________________________________	 Skip to 18
i. Other, please specify:	 Skip to 18

11.	What was your primary field of study/major when you were awarded a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellowship (e.g., history, anthropology)?

12.	Were you awarded a degree in this field/major?

	Check one
a. Yes, I was awarded a degree in this field/major.				Skip to 14
b. No, I was awarded a degree in a different field.		List field/major: L ist the degree awarded:		Go to 13
c. No, I am currently working toward a degree in a different field.		List field/major: L ist the degree you are pursuing:		Skip to 16
d. No, I am still working toward a degree in this field.				Skip to 17
e. No, I am no longer working toward a degree in this field or any other field.				Skip to 18

No, I was awarded a degree in a different field.

13.	Using the following scale, please indicate the degree to which your experiences as a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellow led you to choose a different field of study/major.

1 No Role			2 Minimal Role			3 Moderate Role		4 Significant Role
				Skip to 15

Yes, I was awarded a degree in this field/major.

14.	Using the scale below, please indicate the degree to which your experience as a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellow had a role in the completion of your studies in your degree program.

1 No Role

2 Minimal Role

3 Moderate Role

4 Significant Role

15.

Using the table below, please indicate 1) any additional degrees you have been awarded or are working towards since your 2009 Overseas Language Program fellowship, and 2) the role the Overseas Language Program fellowship language played in your pursuit of an additional degree. Please use the following scale to describe the role of the Overseas Language Program fellowship in your pursuit of an additional degree(s):

1 No Role			2 Minimal Role		3 Moderate Role		4 Significant Role
	Degree	Check all that apply		Field		Role of the fellowship language in choosing to pursue this degree
	Bachelor’s Degree					1		2	3	4
	Master’s Degree					1		2	3	4
	Research Doctoral Degree					1		2	3	4
	Professional Doctoral Degree					1		2	3	4
	Other, please specify:					1		2	3	4

		Skip to 18

No, I am currently working toward a degree in a different field.

	16.		Using the scale below, please indicate the degree to which your experiences as a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellow played a role in your decision to pursue a different field of study.
1 No Role				2 Minimal Role			3 Moderate Role		4 Significant Role
					Skip to 18

No, I am still working toward a degree in this field.

17.	Using the scale below, please indicate the degree to which your experience as a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellow had a role on your studies in your degree program.

1 No Role

2 Minimal Role

3 Moderate Role

4 Significant Role

Experiences as a 2009 Overseas Language Program Fellow

18.	When did you participate in the Overseas Language Program?

	From:	MM		YYYY					To:	MM		YYYY
												2	0	0	8

19.	How long was your Overseas Language Program fellowship?

Length of program	Check one
a. 1 Summer	
b. 1 Quarter	
c. 1 Trimester	
d. 1 Semester	
e. 1 Academic Year	
f. 1 Full Year	
g. Other, please specify:	

20.	Please select your host country from the following list:

Country	Check one
a. Cambodia	
b. China	
c. Egypt	
d. India	
e. Indonesia	
f. Japan	
g. Jordan	
h. Nigeria	
i. Pakistan	
j. Russia	
k. South Africa	
l. Syria	
m. Tanzania	
n. Thailand	
o. The Philippines	
p. Turkey	
q. Vietnam	
r. Other, please specify:	

21.	What type of lodging did you have while in the host country during your Overseas Language Program fellowship?

Type of lodging	Check all that apply
a. Dorm, single residence (i.e., no roommate)	
b. Dorm with roommate from the program	
c. Dorm with roommate from the host country	
d. Apartment, single residence (i.e., no roommate)	
e. Apartment with roommate from the program	
f. Apartment with roommate from the host country	
g. Host family	
h. Hotel or hostel	
i. Other, please specify:	

22.	While in the host country during your Overseas Language Program fellowship, did you primarily eat meals:

Dining arrangement	Check one
a. Alone	
b. With speakers of the Overseas Language Program language	
c. With English speakers	

Language

23.	Please select the language you studied as a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellow from the following list:

Language	Check one
a. Arabic	
b. Bengali	
c. Chinese	
d. Filipino	
e. Hindi	
f. Indonesian	
g. Japanese	
h. Khmer	
i. Marathi	
j. Russian	
k. Swahili	
l. Tamil	
m. Thai	
n. Turkish	
o. Urdu	
p. Vietnamese	
q. Yoruba	
r. Zulu	
s. Other, please specify:	

24.	Was your proficiency in this language formally tested prior to your study in the host country?
	a. Yes	
	b. No	

25.	Was your proficiency in this language formally tested after your study in the host country?
	a. Yes	
	b. No	

26.

Using the following scale, please indicate your speaking, listening, reading, and writing proficiency in the language you studied during your Overseas Language Program fellowship before your fellowship, immediately after your fellowship, and your current level of proficiency. Please reference the help descriptor for information regarding the levels of language proficiency.

	1	2	3	4	5
	Basic Survival	Limited Working	Professional Working	Full Professional	Native or Bilingual

	Speaking					Listening					Reading					Writing
	Select one					Select one					Select one					Select one
Before fellowship	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
After fellowship	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
Currently	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5

HELP DESCRIPTOR
Basic Survival	Able to satisfy basic survival needs and use the language related to simple, familiar topics
Limited Working	Sufficient control of the language to meet most survival needs and limited social demands
Professional Working	Able to use the language with some precision and in some detail about most common topics
Full Professional	Able to use the language effectively in most formal and informal exchanges on practical, social, and professional topics
Native or Bilingual	Use of language is functionally equivalent to a well-educated native speaker

27.	What type of training had you received in this language before participating in your Overseas Language Program fellowship?

Type of training	Check all that apply
a. High School language courses: list number of years	
b. Undergraduate language courses: list number of years	
c. Graduate School language courses: list number of years	
d. Other language program (e.g., heritage school, immersion), please specify:	
e. No formal language training but other language experience, please specify:	
f. No previous language training	

28.	As a part of your Overseas Language Program fellowship, approximately how many hours per week did you engage in the following activities as a requirement for the program and/or independent of the program?

Type of activity	Number of hours
	Required	Independent
a. Reading textbooks
b. Reading other written materials (non-textbook)
c. Watching audio-visual training media
d. Watching television (e.g., news, local programming)
e. Watching movies involving the GPA language (e.g., original language, subtitled)
f. Attending field trips
g. Language based classroom instruction
h. Non-language based classroom instruction
i. Attending lectures (non-classroom affiliated)
j. Attending language laboratory
k. Peer tutoring
l. Conversing in the GPA language with local residents
m. Attending study clubs
n. Attending social/cultural activities (e.g., concerts, ceremonies, weddings)
o. Structured interactions with institutions (e.g., meeting dignitaries)
p. Working on an independent project
q. Working on group projects
r. Journal writing
s. Giving oral presentations
t. Other, please specify:

29.	Which of the following types of technologies did you use as part of the Overseas Language Program?

Instructional technologies	Check all that apply
a. Moodles	
b. Wikis	
c. Podcasts	
d. Web-based courses	
e. Blogs	
f. Other, please specify:	

30.	Did you plan to participate in or have you applied for an internship in your host country since the Overseas Language Program?

	Check one
a. Yes, I plan to apply for an internship in the host country.	
b. Yes, I have applied and am waiting for a response.	
c. Yes, I have been accepted for an internship.	
d. Yes, I applied for an internship, but was not accepted.	
e. No, I do not plan to apply for an internship.	

31.	Did you seek or do you plan to seek additional language training opportunities for the language you studied as part of your Overseas Language Program fellowship?
	a. Yes	
	b. No			Skip to 32

31.1	What type of language training opportunities have you used or do you plan to use since the completion of your 2009 Overseas Language Program fellowship?

Type of language training opportunity	Check all that apply
a. Textbooks	
b. Other written materials (e.g., newspaper, magazines, books)	
c. Audio-video training media	
d. Television (e.g., news, local programming)	
e. Movies (e.g., native, translated)	
f. Classroom lectures	
g. Lectures (other than classroom)	
h. Language laboratory	
i. Study club(s)	
j. Social/cultural activities (e.g., concerts, receptions, ceremonies, weddings)	
k. Research project(s)	
l. Journal writing	
m. Oral presentations	
n. Study abroad	
o. Live/lived abroad	
p. Tutoring	
q. Other language program (e.g., heritage school, immersion), please explain: _____________________________________________________________	
r. Other, please specify:	

32.	What were your primary reasons for applying for a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellowship?

Reason	Check all that apply
a. To gain competence in another culture	
b. To increase my proficiency in this language	
c. To increase graduate school/program competitiveness	
d. To increase employment or career competitiveness	
e. To pursue a career in which this specific language was a required ability	
f. For personal growth	
g. Other, please specify:	

33.	Using the scale below, please indicate your opinion of your Overseas Language Program fellowship host country and of the United States before and after your fellowship.

	1	2	3	4	5
	Very low Opinion	Low Opinion	No Opinion	High Opinion	Very high Opinion

	Before fellowship					After fellowship
a. Host country	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5
b. United States	1	2	3	4	5	1	2	3	4	5

34.	Have you studied any other language(s) since the completion of your 2009 Overseas Language Program fellowship?
	a. Yes	
	b. No			Skip to 35

34.1	Using the following scale, please indicate your overall proficiency in the other language(s) you have studied since your fellowship.

	1	2	3	4	5
	Basic Survival	Limited Working	Professional Working	Full Professional	Native or Bilingual

Language	Select one per row
	1	2	3	4	5
	1	2	3	4	5

HELP DESCRIPTOR
Basic Survival	Able to satisfy basic survival needs and use the language related to simple, familiar topics
Limited Working	Sufficient control of the language to meet most survival needs and limited social demands
Professional Working	Able to use the language with some precision and in some detail about most common topics
Full Professional	Able to use the language effectively in most formal and informal exchanges on practical, social, and professional topics
Native or Bilingual	Use of language is functionally equivalent to a well-educated native speaker

Funding

35.	What program components/costs did you cover with personal funds?

Program component/cost	Check all that apply
a. Tuition	
b. Program-related fee(s)	
c. Travel to host country	
d. Travel within host country	
e. Food	
f. Lodging	
g. Program materials/supplies (e.g., books, audio-video media)	
h. Health insurance/inoculations/medical tests	
i. Visa/passport	
j. Other, please specify:	
k. I didn’t spend any personal funds	

36.	Which of the following describes your current employment status?

Current employment status	Check one
a. Employed and attending school	
b. Employed and not currently in school	
c. Not employed and attending school	
d. Not employed and seeking employment	
e. Not employed and not seeking employment	
f. Other, please specify:_______________________________________	

37.	Please select the type of career you plan to pursue:

Field	Check one
a. Elementary or secondary education	
b. Federal government	
c. Foreign government	
d. Graduate study	
e. Higher education	
f. International organization (in U.S.)	
g. International organization (outside U.S.)	
h. Private sector (for profit)	
i. Private sector (non-profit)	
j. State or local government	
k. U.S. military	
l. Unknown	
m. Other, please specify:	

38.	Using the following scale, please indicate the extent to which your experiences as a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellow have played a role in your career choice.

1 No Role

2 Minimal Role

3 Moderate Role

4 Significant Role

39.	Using the following scale, please indicate how strongly you agree or disagree with the following statements about your experiences as a 2009 Overseas Language Program fellow.

1	2	3	4	5
Strongly Disagree	Disagree	Neither Agree nor Disagree	Agree	Strongly Agree

	Select one per row
a. The Overseas Language Program fellowship improved my language skills.	1	2	3	4	5
b. The Overseas Language Program improved my cultural competence.	1	2	3	4	5
c. The Overseas Language Program fellowship prepared me for my career goals.	1	2	3	4	5
d. The quality of the formal instructional program provided through the Overseas Language Program fellowship was high.	1	2	3	4	5
e. There was adequate flexibility in the program to pursue language learning opportunities other than those that were mandatory.	1	2	3	4	5

Thank you very much for completing this survey!