The Sociocultural Dimension of Language as Experienced by Student Beneficiaries in an International Exchange Program: A Multiple Case Study

This qualitative multiple-case study explored the sociocultural dimensions of language as experienced by student beneficiaries in an international exchange program through in-depth interviews. Participants were selected using maximum variation sampling, and data triangulation was conducted by interviewing individuals closely associated with the students. Thematic analysis revealed five emergent themes regarding sociocultural language experiences: respect in language, daily talk and belonging, multilingual life, cultural communication norms, and language adaptation challenges. These findings underscore the importance of sociocultural awareness in language learning and offer insights for designing programs that support cross-cultural communication and language proficiency in international exchange contexts.