Abstract

The following chapters will be answering my research question of, “How does immersion in a study abroad program affect a learner’s identity while developing their knowledge of the language and culture in a new target language?” To answer this question, I will be examining and analyzing two films Un cuento chino and L’Esquive to further understand my idea that experimental learning in an immersive environment fosters a better environment to be able to comprehend a language and create an identity. The characters in both films, Krimo and Lydia in L’esquive, and Roberto and Jun in Un cuento chino convey a perfect example of how identity is shaped through language and cultural immersion. In addition, acquiring new languages allows individuals to become someone else as they perform multiple cultural identities. Through the extensive analyzation of the films, my findings of language immersion and the effect on identity have been clear. In general, students in a study abroad program must do more than learn vocabulary and grammar. As they immerse themselves in an L2 environment, they begin to work out their identities, adapt how they speak and present themselves to new people they meet. Just as the bilingual person mediates between cultures, immersion learners mediate between their first language identity and their emerging second language identity. Language is constantly evolving and so is our identities through new experiences, people and environments.

Advisor

Burch, Laura

Second Advisor

Diaz de Leon, Aida

Department

French and Francophone Studies; Spanish

Disciplines

Bilingual, Multilingual, and Multicultural Education

Publication Date

2026

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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© Copyright 2026 Rachel G. Applebaum