• Bilingual Education and Training Courses Abroad: Key Factors for Linguistic Success. Educación bilingüe y cursos formativos internacionales: factores clave para el éxito lingüístico

Abstract

Bilingual education has become widespread in Spain due to its potential for language learning. However, few studies examine bilingual education graduates’ perceptions of their linguistic success (in terms of intercultural competence, employability, and mobility) and whether participation in training courses abroad contributes to it. This paper analyses whether participation both in Spanish bilingual programs and training courses abroad affects bilingual education graduates’ perceptions of linguistic success. A web-based survey is used for data gathering through Facebook Audience Insights for sample selection. 19.2% of respondents claim having participated in bilingual programs, whereas 38.6% declare having taken part in training courses abroad. Findings reveal that participants in Spanish bilingual education and training courses abroad consider themselves more linguistically successful than their counterparts. This encourages further research on the potential of both Spanish bilingual programs and study abroad experiences.

Keywords

• Spanish bilingual education
• bilinguals
• self-perceived linguistic success
• training courses abroad