Anonymous Sojourners: Mapping the Territory of Caribbean Experiences of Immersion for Language Learning

Abstract

This paper is a qualitative analysis of the experiences of sojourners from the Anglophone Caribbean undertaking linguistic immersion in France and Colombia. Diaries, filmed interviews and questionnaires were used to gather the perceptions of eleven sojourners from small Eastern Caribbean territories (principally Barbados), whose experiences are compared to that of students from much larger, globally recognizable nations (the subject of most study abroad research). The “non-recognizability” of the Caribbean sojourners was found to be a source of some irritation, as many were forced to accept misidentification with Jamaica. A minority reported experiencing discomfort arising from their belonging to a racial minority in the host country. Though some of the female participants recounted being the object of sexually motivated “calling out” behaviour involving racialized epithets (particularly in Colombia), discomfort was minimized by their habituation to this behavior at home. The testimony gathered indicated that participants achieved intercultural gains, with responses to the home territory on re-entry being typically ambivalent. Practical steps to mitigate the non-recognizability factor by developing materials to supply future sojourners are proposed in the Conclusion, together with proposals to improve orientation and follow-up by harnessing the experiences of these and future sojourners and thus developing Caribbean-specific intercultural learning materials and to cultivate improved employment opportunities on return by fostering links with public and private-sector bodies. It is hoped that the account of these Caribbean sojourners’ experiences will raise general awareness in the study abroad community of issues surrounding sojourners from smaller and less recognizable territories.