ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the Initial Research Project carried out during 2005–6 with educational exchange participants in three countries (Ecuador, Great Britain, and Switzerland). The discussion describes the programs examined in this research, provides a description of the research project, the participants involved (sojourners, hosts, and mentors), advantages and limitations of the project, and the approach to data compilation and organization. Research findings are based on quantitative and qualitative data, compiled from surveys and interviews conducted in three languages. Data are compiled and analyzed first by language-nationality groups in an attempt to identify “particularist” aspects (those that apply to each individual group) and, subsequently, translated into English and combined to identify “universal” aspects (those that apply across language-nationality groups). Findings are also analyzed in response to ten a priori assertions. Among these assertions, clear, strong, and positive responses highlight the homestay component as most important and learning the host language as fundamental and critical to the entire experience, in addition to other interesting findings attested to by alumni even 20 years later. The final section summarizes lessons learned and proposes areas for further research.
