Getting Out of their Comfort Zone: Examining Teacher Candidates' Reactions to Service-Learning Abroad

Abstract

This study presents data gathered from a service-learning trip to Costa Rica designed for teacher candidates. Data include participant responses to writing prompts, field notes, and follow-up questionnaires. Results show that participants' experience with the language barrier raised their empathy toward English learners. However, participants expressed dissonance regarding student behavioral norms.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank the outstanding group of Ohio Dominican University TESOL students for their participation in this study.