‘I do not have to love them, I’m just interested in their language’: preparation for a study abroad period and the negotiation(s) of intercultural competence

Study abroad opportunities can contribute significantly to the development of higher education students. However, participants’ preparation experiences and future-oriented thought patterns prior to the international mobility period can influence the merits of such opportunities. This study, therefore, explored the preparation experiences of prospective English language teachers from Turkey who chose to study in England for a 4-month period. Utilizing an interpretative phenomenological analysis method, we revealed that participants’ lived and imagined experiences were shaped by three main themes: a groundless optimism, naiveté, and intercultural (in)competence. Based on these findings, we discussed the preparation processes for study abroad programs.