A Language Learning Journey: What’s Left? and Where Next?

ABSTRACT The main aim of this study is to explore post-travel outcomes in language travel. It sought to address the following research objectives: to understand the factors that influenced language travelers’ language and destination choice; to understand the main post-travel outcomes for language travelers, from a long-term perspective; and to understand how language travel influences subsequent travel behavior, in particular return intentions and return behavior. Overall, the study findings suggest that participants’ intrinsic interest in language and culture drove their language choice, while destination choice was mostly driven by their desire to enhance language skills. The main language travel outcomes included: the improvement of language abilities and subsequent professional and academic outcomes; personal growth; further language travel, including returning or migrating to previous travel destinations.