Att resa bortom textböckerna i en värld full av liv : Det upplevda värdet av studieresor utomlands i ämnet engelska på gymnasienivå.

Sammanfattning: The study aims to investigate how studies abroad in the English subject are made possible, motivated for, valued and evaluated. By using a qualitative method where three interviews with three students and two teachers were conducted the following results came to light: The results show that the municipality decides whether studies abroad will or will not be approved and financed. Furthermore, teachers and students work together with assignments before, during and after the trip which is followed by an evaluation. Finally, teachers’ and students’ attitudes and values towards studies abroad are both positive and negative. Both teachers and students can see an improvement in the English language where students develop a courage to use the English language, which in long term perspective leads to more use of the English language in the classroom, thus improved English. Teachers and students can also see an improvement in the students’ knowledge about English culture with a better understanding for what English culture is. Besides improvement connected to English as a subject, teachers and students can see that studies abroad lead to individual growth among the students.