Language tourism in spain: theoretical framework

Abstract

In today's work context, where globalization, internationalization, competitiveness and adaptability are a must, both future and current professionals need to develop their communicative competence in foreign languages. For this reason and for other socio-cultural and/or emotional motivations, travelling to other countries to learn a language or to improve individuals’ language skills has become a worldwide trend in the last decades for a broad spectrum of population segments. This paper intends to give an account of the studies on language tourism that have been carried out in Spain from an academic perspective. To this end, a conceptualization will be presented on the basis of recent publications on this niche market, which has received little attention from the Academy in relation to its idiosyncrasy and to the various impacts generated by this economic activity. In addition, a compendium of research undertaken in Spain on this subject will be made and possible future lines of work will be pinpointed, for which this literature review may constitute a pertinent underlying theoretical framework.