Japanese English Majors’ Experiences and Attitudes to Study Abroad: A Case Study of Students at a Private University in Tokyo

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 38-52
Author(s):  
Anthony Tobin
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
English Language ◽  
Private University ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
Overseas Travel ◽  
Recent Trends ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Japanese English

This study investigates both the benefits of and recent trends in studying abroad for Japanese students and examines the results of a survey on study abroad taken by students majoring in English at a private university in Tokyo. Statistics from JASSO showed that the trend in study abroad before 2020 was for an increasing number of Japanese university students to spend a period of time studying abroad, though most of the increase was in short-term study. The English language questionnaire sought to discover what proportion of a group of seventy-two students had already studied abroad, or planned to do so, and to establish whether those who had gained experience had benefited from it, as well as detailing student anxieties which may have deterred students from studying abroad. The survey on study abroad, taken in January 2018, had a 100% response rate. Twenty-three (32%) of the students answered that they had already studied abroad, mostly for short durations in English-speaking countries. Most of the students who studied abroad had a positive experience, reputedly improved their English skills and recommended that other students study abroad. Twenty-six (53%) of the students without study abroad experience were planning to study abroad, even though they had some issues which concerned them, such as their ability to communicate in English, personal safety, and financial matters. The main reason for not electing to study abroad for this particular sample was found to be related to the overall costs of overseas travel, accommodation, and tuition. この研究では日本人学生に対する留学の利点および最近の留学の傾向を調べ、さら に東京の私立大学で英語を専攻している学生に対して実施した留学についての調査 の結果を検討している。JASSO の統計によると、２０２０年までは留学する日本人 大学生の数は増加傾向であったが、そのほとんどは短期留学であった。英語で行わ れたアンケート調査の目的は、著者の三つのクラスの７２名の学生のうちの何割が 留学経験がある、もしくは留学の予定があるか、またすでに留学した学生はその経 験から恩恵を受けたと感じているか、学生は留学をするにあたってどのような不安 を持つか、さらに留学しないと答えた学生の場合は留学しない理由を明らかにする ことである。２０１８年１月に行われた調査の回答率は１００パーセントであっ た。２３人（３２パーセント）の学生は留学経験があり、ほとんどの場合が英語圏 の国への短期留学である。留学経験のある学生の大半数が有益な経験ができ、英語 力が上達したと感じており、他の学生に留学を勧めると答えている。留学経験のな い学生の２６人（５３パーセント）が留学する予定だが、英語のコミュニケーショ ン、安全、金銭などについて不安を感じていた。留学しない理由については、旅 費、宿泊代、授業料など経済的な理由が大半であった。

scholarly journals THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN STUDENTS’ SELF-CONFIDENCE AND THEIR ENGLISH-SPEAKING PERFORMANCE: A CASE STUDY OF ENGLISH-MAJORED STUDENTS AT A PRIVATE UNIVERSITY IN VIETNAM

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anh Tuan Pham ◽  
Hieu Trung Hong ◽  
Tien Thuy Chau ◽  
Nhi Vo Anh Le ◽  
Phuc Thuy Thy Tran ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
English Language ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Private University ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Learning Methods ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Significant Relationships ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
Speaking Performance

<p>This research aimed to discover the relationships between students' self-confidence and their English-speaking performance. In our research, self-confidence was divided into three components which are affective confidence, behavioral confidence, and cognitive confidence. In addition, speaking performance included eight components which are vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, fluency, coherence, comprehension, task, and content. A sample of 150 English-majored students at a university in Vietnam was surveyed in this study by using a convenience sampling technique, and then conducting semi-structured interviews to seek for qualitative information from 10 participants out of 150. The result from our study showed that there are significant relationships between the two variables. The more confident the students are, the more accomplished they would be in the presenting procedure since they have superior cognition and understand how to modify their learning methods to build a comprehensive individual in learning English language. We expect that these findings can help students adjust their learning methods to improve their self-confidence as well as English speaking performance and by that way, universities can add more speaking-related subjects so that students can have more opportunities to speak and learn more speaking skills.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0870/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Changing Hong Kong university students’ national identity through studying abroad

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Cheng ◽  
Elson Szeto
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
National Identity ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
University Students ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Short Term Study

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore whether there are any effects on Hong Kong university students’ national identity after short-term study abroad. If so, what sources of influence from the short-term study abroad programme contribute to the students’ change in national identity? Design/methodology/approach Using the case study approach, 85 students completed a questionnaire, and a small group of 12 students were invited to individual interviews for further investigation. Findings Results show that the students’ perceptions of national identity are multiple and complicated through the lens of four components of national identity. The responses of students’ perceptions of change in identity were pointed to three statements: “feeling prouder of being Chinese”, “Hongkongers are very different from mainland Chinese” and “no change in my views of national identity”. The influences of study abroad experiences on national identity varied, dependent on the students’ interaction with the local and non-local people, and reflection on their own identity, whether on the cultural or political differences or on national achievements. Research limitations/implications The findings of this study can inform educators and administrators to enhance profound short-term study abroad experience for the students. The limitation of this case study is that it is concerned with understanding how small numbers of students construct meaning from their individual experience. It is recommended that studies with larger sampling sizes be conducted to investigate students’ perceptions of their national identity before and after studying abroad. Originality/value Considering the increasing number of Hong Kong youths who have participated in these short-term study-abroad programmes in higher education, the findings of this study are significant in terms of awakening the students’ taken-for-granted national identity, if any. The programme serves as a means of triggering the students’ feelings and emotions regarding their identity in different national, social and cultural contexts. This can inform policy makers, educational administrators and teachers to formulate an appropriate national education curriculum for the youth.

Emplacing Berlin: Digital Itineraries and Short-term Study Abroad in the City

2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard B. Apgar
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Urban Landscape ◽  
Physical Space ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Study Abroad Programs ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Digital Maps ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
The City

As destination of choice for many short-term study abroad programs, Berlin offers students of German language, culture and history a number of sites richly layered with significance. The complexities of these sites and the competing narratives that surround them are difficult for students to grasp in a condensed period of time. Using approaches from the spatial humanities, this article offers a case study for enhancing student learning through the creation of digital maps and itineraries in a campus-based course for subsequent use during a three-week program in Berlin. In particular, the concept of deep mapping is discussed as a means of augmenting understanding of the city and its history from a narrative across time to a narrative across the physical space of the city. As itineraries, these course-based projects were replicated on site. In moving from the digital environment to the urban landscape, this article concludes by noting meanings uncovered and narratives formed as we moved through the physical space of the city.

scholarly journals Preventing a boondoggle: assuring a short term research abroad activity is an educative experience

2019 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kelly George ◽  
Aaron Clevenger
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Learning Outcomes ◽  
Experiential Education ◽  
Undergraduate Research ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Instrumental Case Study ◽  
Short Term Study

Purpose At Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, an annual short-term, research abroad non-credit program was created in 2012 as a core component of the undergraduate research initiative that achieves learning outcomes in a meaningful way. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach In order to describe, and analyze the short-term research abroad activity, an instrumental case study design was created. The instrumental case study was chosen as a means of allowing the facilitators/authors to communicate how they attempted to assure that the program was educative. In order to determine if the program was in fact educative and that it met its goal of being an effective research experience the authors utilized two additional research methods. The first was a document analysis of the participant’s research artifacts. Each participant was required to communicate their findings by writing a paper that was submitted for publication to an applicable research journal. Findings The study found that an experiential education as a pedagogical framework coupled with a short-term research abroad activity can lead to a substantive educative experience, where the authors described and analyzed attempts to ensure that the short-term research abroad program was educative, it also describes the educational assessment findings which describe what was found when the authors tested whether they, in fact, met this goal. Research limitations/implications During the design phase of the short-term research abroad program, the authors turned to experiential education as a principle for how they would ensure that the program was grounded in an acceptable educational theory. Experiential education is a widely accepted educational practice used in experiences such as co-ops and internships, study abroad, undergraduate research and service learning. Practical implications To frame the short-term cultural research abroad program as something from which student could learn the authors utilized the National Society of Experiential Education’s (2013) list of eight principles of good practice. In order to safeguard that an activity is educative, an assessment or an evaluation of a demonstrative artifact is essential. In assessing the final artifact against a rubric or some other non-biased or less biased criteria, an educator can ensure that the student has gained new knowledge in the form of student learning outcomes (SLOs). In addition, the educator can use the results of this assessment to modify many different aspects of the experience ranging from the timing, the modality, the pre-work, even the learning outcomes themselves. Social implications Given financial and curriculum inflexibility of some students, Universities and faculty could achieve attainment of research-based, program agnostic, SLOs by offering short-term study abroad alternatives to the traditional semester or year-long experiences. With graduates looking to enter the job market where businesses are more globalized and executive’s recognition of a need for more international experience, carefully constructed short-term study abroad programs are meaningful avenues to build those credentials. Originality/value Such offerings can be constructed as customized experiences to achieve highly integrated skills across all degree programs.

Program Design and the Development of Students’ Global Perspectives in Faculty-Led Short-Term Study Abroad

2020 ◽  
pp. 102831532090615
Author(s):  
Melissa Whatley ◽  
Adam C. Landon ◽  
Michael A. Tarrant ◽  
Donald Rubin
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Program Design ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Study Abroad Programs ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Global Perspectives ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
Before And After

This study explores connections between design features of faculty-led short-term study abroad programs and resulting changes in students’ global perspectives. Over 2,000 students provided data for this study, completing the Global Perspective Inventory (GPI) before and after studying abroad. Results indicated that program features such as participation in an internship and opportunities for reflection are positively associated with global perspective development while abroad, whereas features such as number of students traveling together and coursework in English are negatively associated with such development. Given the increasing numbers of students who participate in faculty-led short-term abroad programs, research that provides evidence-based recommendations concerning program design is essential to enhancing global perspectives through study abroad.

Duration Matters: Separating the Impact of Depth and Duration in Study Abroad Programs

2019 ◽  
pp. 102831531988738
Author(s):  
Stephen B. DeLoach ◽  
Mark R. Kurt ◽  
Neal H. Olitsky
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Academic Program ◽  
Global Awareness ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Study Abroad Programs ◽  
Four Dimensions ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
English Speaking ◽  
The Impact

Study abroad participation has increased dramatically over the past two decades, primarily through the growth of short-term study abroad experiences. Given this, it is logical to ask whether short-term experiences are capable of delivering student learning outcomes equivalent to those of long-term experiences. The research presented in this article addresses this question by asking if program duration (i.e., temporal length of the academic program) or depth (i.e., focused and reflective interaction with the destination culture) has a greater impact on changes in students’ global awareness. A longitudinal study across 80 study abroad programs from a single institution, measured global awareness pre- and post-abroad experience. This design controlled for preexisting differences (self-selection) and allowed us to rigorously estimate the relative effects of depth and duration across four dimensions of global awareness. Results show that a longer duration was associated with significant changes in three out of the four global awareness dimensions measured. The only depth measure that positively and significantly impacted global awareness was when the study abroad destination was a non-English speaking country. Even in this instance, the impact non-English speaking destination was increased further for longer durations.

What difference does it make?

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gianna Hessel ◽  
Robert Vanderplank
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Language Proficiency ◽  
English Language ◽  
English Language Proficiency ◽  
Group Differences ◽  
Exchange Students ◽  
Advanced Level ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Linguistic Proficiency ◽  
At Home

Abstract Direct effects of participation in study abroad on linguistic proficiency have been notoriously difficult to differentiate from mere participant, time and study effects. This study examines English proficiency gains among 136 advanced-level German university students who applied for an ERASMUS exchange and either studied at a British university or continued to study at home. Participants completed C-tests of English language proficiency and comprehensive questionnaires at baseline, after three and nine months. After the first three months, those studying abroad had made significantly higher proficiency gains than the ERASMUS applicants who continued to study at home. During the subsequent six months, linguistic progress among the study abroad participants slowed and between-group differences were no longer significant. The results further substantiate hypotheses on significant linguistic benefits of participation in study abroad for advanced L2 learners, while also highlighting the need to facilitate sustained linguistic progress among exchange students, particularly during more extended stays.

scholarly journals Preparedness for Study Abroad: Comparing the Linguistic Outcomes of a Short-Term Spanish Program by Third, Fourth and Sixth Semester L2 Learners

2009 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 157-179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucile Duperron ◽  
Mark H. Overstreet
Keyword(s):  
Language Development ◽  
Study Abroad ◽  
Threshold Level ◽  
Optimal Timing ◽  
Language Experience ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Second Language Development ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
The Individual

The present study examines second language development in a short-term program based on the number of courses that learners have completed prior to their abroad experience. However, it does not presume that longer seat time before studying abroad equals proportionately higher linguistic returns. Rather, it aims to describe what kind of language development occurs in the short-term study abroad environment based on learners’ previous language experience. This descriptive approach allows us to take into account the individual variation that characterizes study abroad learning outcomes (Segalowitz et al., 2004). It also brings a level of detail that is useful in investigating optimal timing conditions toward the study abroad experience, that is, a threshold level at which learners are primed to benefit most from study abroad (Segalowitz & Freed, 2004). 

scholarly journals Intragroup Conflict During Study Abroad

2015 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 244-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Bodycott
Keyword(s):  
Study Abroad ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Intragroup Conflict ◽  
National Group ◽  
Studying Abroad ◽  
Short Term Study ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
Program Involvement ◽  
Study Abroad Program ◽  
Support Students

Co-national groups of individuals from the same country can provide members with psychological and sociocultural support when coping with the stresses of studying abroad. This article examines intragroup task and relationship conflict that occurred in one co-national group during a 14-week short-term study abroad program. Findings reveal the negative effect of intragroup conflict, within the co-national group, on student’s personal and social −ethnic− identities, acculturation and program involvement. Recommendations are made about ways to help students in co-national groups cope with acculturation and intragroup conflict, and how institutions can better prepare and support students for study abroad.

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