"Det bästa med skolan" : En elevinriktad studie om motiv och attityder till internationella utbildningsutbyten.

In Sweden, little research has been done on the topic of international exchange programs that various schools offer to their pupils. This study investigates how pupils view these exchange programs, and how in their opinion it affects their learning and their level of motivation. The study also investigates the motives for taking part in or declining an international exchange. To answer these questions a quantitative survey and qualitative interviews with pupils with and without experience respectively was carried out.The study indicates that pupils that have not taken part in an exchange believe that it is a time consuming quest that may affect the student’s results in other courses, which is not a belief shared by the other group. Through exchanges the pupils that have taken part in an exchange believe that they have developed their language skills and their knowledge in social science. The main reasons for taking part are the cultural discoveries the students make and the chance to travel abroad. The main reason for not taking part in an exchange is the extra effort that the subjects believe are required