Summary from abstract: "Although study abroad is viewed in the United States as sine qua non, the study abroad experience is not a panacea to achieve distinguished foreign language speaking proficiency. This qualitative case study attempts to uncover how persistence, study abroad, motivation, and learner autonomy play into the pursuit of distinguished speaking proficiency. The literature review addressed the need to investigate the efficacy of the study abroad experience vis-à-vis the students' oral proficiency, types of motivation, and learner autonomy as a means to achieve higher speaking proficiency. Using the theoretical framework of complexity theory and phenomenological design, the study utilized interviews of four educators at an institute in the Western United States as the primary instrument of data collection. This study investigated the roadmaps which successful foreign language educators have utilized to achieve distinguished speaking proficiency through interviews and documentary research. The study revealed four primary themes which were motivation, persistence, learner autonomy, and study abroad. Data analysis of interviews with the participants revealed distinguished speaking proficiency was a highly personal pursuit, characterized by different motivations based on the choice of a foreign language, engagement in the target culture, grit, and time. Overall, the participants were highly self-efficacious learners, many married to foreign-speaking spouses, and spent extended periods in the foreign culture and community. The study provided possible roadmaps for students and educators who wish to achieve near-native speaking proficiency in a foreign language."

Dissertation submitted to the doctoral program of the american college of education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of doctor of education, March 2020.

List of tables --List of figures -- Introduction -- Literature review -- Methodology -- Research findings and data analysis -- Discussion and conclusions -- References -- Appendixes.