This study focused on identifying intercultural attitudes associated with favorable expectations about participation in study abroad programs. A total of 282 U.S. 1st-year college students completed a questionnaire that included measures of ethnocentrism, intercultural communication apprehension, language interest and competence, prejudice, intolerance of ambiguity, and expectations about study abroad. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that favorable expectations about study abroad were best predicted by levels of language interest, followed by low ethnocentrism and low intercultural communication apprehension. Female participants were significantly more likely than male participants to have positive expectations of study abroad and indicated significantly less ethnocentrism and intercultural communication apprehension and greater language interest. These findings suggest that interest in international study programs may be facilitated in part by interventions addressing intergroup attitudes as well as programs that help students understand the value of language study.
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