Abstract

Social and cultural connectedness amongst international students during their studies abroad have been recognized to enhance such students’ overall experience. A less explored relationship, connectedness to their place of study, may also improve international student wellbeing. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a pilot study taking a novel, collaborative approach to engagement with international students in Melbourne. A group of thirteen students used the mobile app LinguaSnapp—developed for Linguistic Landscape research—to engage with their surroundings and each other by capturing and translating signs in different languages in the city. Results from interviews following the study show that participants reported an increased familiarity with the city, a stronger awareness of multilingualism and multiculturalism in Melbourne, and a deeper engagement with the urban space around them. In addition, they formed friendships with other participants and gained a sense of value through the contribution of linguistic knowledge and technological expertise to a broader Linguistic Landscape research project. This pilot study confirms the feasibility of a larger scale study to evaluate in greater detail how a mobile app, such as LinguaSnapp, can potentially foster stronger links between international students’ connectedness to place and wellbeing.