This document summarizes the Ethnographic Encounters Project which aimed to help students develop their academic and research skills during their mandatory residence abroad. It discusses that while language acquisition is well documented, the academic dimension is less researched. The project provided training to 10 students in ethnographic methods before their year abroad. Students then undertook ethnographic research and wrote reflective blog posts during their time overseas. Their materials will be archived to help future students. The project innovates the curriculum and supports digital literacy.

1. Ethnographic Encounters Project: Using
the Residence Abroad to Explore Other
Societies and Cultures
The Student Perspective on Ethnographic Research
Dr Lisa Bernasek
Sarah Beeken
Claire St John Eve

2. Background to project
Most modern languages degrees include a Residence
Abroad component, one of the key aims of which is to
help students acquire a greater understanding of a new
language and culture and to develop research skills.
While the acquisition of linguistic competences has
been well-documented, the academic dimension of
the year abroad is less researched. This project
seeks to innovate in developing the academic
disciplinary content of the curriculum. It will support
the Digital Literacy Agenda by enabling students to
explore and experiment with the dynamics of
interculturality and to develop new creative
forms of ethnographic encounters.

3. What we did
February 2014 – July 2014
• Ten students chosen from written applications
• Ethnographic methods training sessions
– Project overview and initial feedback on ethnographic projects
– Doing Ethnography Q&A session
– Ethnographic methods session (in LANG 2005)
– Participant Observation activity and discussion
– Individual discussions of ethnographic projects
• Students advised on archiving of research materials
• Digital literacy skills assessment and training session
• E-Folio Ethnographic Encounters blog site established

4. Ethnographic Encounters Project
E-Folio blog site

5. What we did
August 2014 – October 2015
• Students wrote reflective blog posts during Year Abroad
• Feedback provided through comments, over email
• Students gathered research materials for their projects,
future public archive
• Ethnographic Encounters website established with key
resources for students and staff:
http://www.southampton.ac.uk/ethnographicencounters
5