Chapter 3. Situational and contextual variation in the development of Spanish apologies during short-term study abroad

Abstract

This study investigates the effect of instruction and micro-social factors (social distance and power) on learners’ production of L2 Spanish apologies during a 6-week immersion program in Spain. It also explores whether learners are able to apply semantic formulas learned for one speech act (apologies) to the context of another (refusals). Thirty-one learners completed an oral discourse completion task before and after study abroad. Results show that learners approximate native-like norms for apologies after study abroad and instruction, and that they are able to apply this knowledge to the context of refusals. Learners also show differences in apology formula usage across situations of varying social distance and power. They are sensitive to situational differences in both factors after study abroad.