A Quantitative Assessment of Japanese Students’ Intercultural Competence Developed Through Study Abroad Programs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v9i4.391Keywords:
factor analysis, institutional arrangement, intercultural competence, international education, Japanese students, study abroad programsAbstract
This study explores the factors of study abroad programs that contribute to cultivating intercultural competence. Through an empirically based quantitative examination of 303 Japanese study abroad students, it attempts to gain an understanding of the factors that enhance the development of intercultural competence. Considering that many previous studies worked with students in English-speaking countries, this study examines whether an investigation of Japanese students would yield similar results, given the different context. The primary findings show that program type, prior local language proficiency, and pre-departure orientation are predicted to have significant impacts on intercultural competence. The findings clearly demonstrate the importance of empirically-based arrangements of study abroad programs based on student and program profiles to enhance students’ intercultural competence.
References
Allen, H. W., & Herron, C. (2003). A mixed-methodology investigation of the linguistic and affective outcomes of summer study abroad. Foreign Language Annals, 36(3), 370–385.
Basow, S. A., & Gaugler, T. (2017). Predicting adjustment of U.S. college students studying abroad: Beyond the multicultural personality. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 56, 39–51.
Bennett, J. M. (2011). Developing intercultural competence for international education faculty and staff. 2011 AIEA Conference Workshop, San Francisco, CA. Retrieved November 25, 2018 from http://www.pindex.com/uploads/post_docs/1Analytic-ICIInterculturalCompetence(PINDEX-DOC-14711).pdf
Bennett, M. J. (1993). Towards ethnorelativism: A developmental model of intercultural sensitivity. In R. M. Paige (Ed.), Education for the intercultural experience (2nd ed., pp. 21–71). Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press.
Deardorff, D. K. (2009). Synthesizing conceptualizations of intercultural competence: A summary and emerging themes. In D. K. Deardorff (Ed.), The SAGE handbook of intercultural competence. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Engle, L., & Engle, J. (2004). Assessing language acquisition and intercultural sensitivity development in relation to study abroad program design. Frontier: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, X, 219–236.
Fantini, A. E. (2009). Assessing intercultural competence. In D. K. Deardorff (Ed.), The SAGE handbook of intercultural competence (pp. 456–476). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Gilin, B., & Young, T. (2009). Educational benefits of international experiential learning in an MSW program. International Social Work, 52(1), 36–47.
Griffith, R. L., Wolfeld, L., Armon, B. K., Rios, J., & Liu, O. L. (2016). Assessing intercultural competence in higher education: Existing research and future directions. Research Report ETS RR-16-25. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ets2.12112
Gullahorn, J., & Gullahorn, J. (1963). An extension of the u-curve hypothesis. Journal of Social Issues, 19(3), 33–47.
Hammer, M. R. (2011). Additional cross-cultural validity testing of the Intercultural Development Inventory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 35, 474–487.
Hammer, M. R. (2012). A resource guide for effectively using the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Berlin, MD: IDI, LLC.
Hammer, M. R. (2015). The developmental paradigm for intercultural competence research. International Journal of Intercultural Relations,48, 12–13.
Hermond, D., Vairezm, M. R., Jr., & Tanner, T. (2018). Enhancing the cultural competency of prospective leaders via a study abroad experience. Administrative Issues Journal: Connecting Education, Practice, and Research, 8(1), 18–27.
Hommadova, A., & Mita, T. (2016). Academic and social challenges of Japanese students during cultural adjustment to the rural U.S. Journal of International and Advanced Japanese Studies, 8, 241–255.
Intercultural Development Inventory, LLC. (2018). The roadmap to intercultural competence using the IDI. 12 reasons for using the IDI. Retrieved November 25, 2018 from https://idiinventory.com/publications/12-reasons-for-using-the-idi/
Jackson, J. (2018). Interculturality in international education. New York, NY: Routledge.
Jackson, J., & Oguro, S. (2018). Enhancing and extending study abroad learning through intercultural interventions. In J. Jackson & S. Oguro (Eds.), Intercultural interventions in study abroad. (pp.1–17). Oxon, OX: Routledge.
Japan Student Services Organization. (2012). 2010 Report of Japanese students participating in study abroad programs through partnerships and etc. (Heisei 22 nendo kyouteitou ni motoduku nihonjin gakusei kaigairyuugaku jyoukyou chousa kekka). Retrieved Novembe 25, 2018 from https://www.jasso.go.jp/about/statistics/intl_student_s/2011/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2016/01/28/short_term10.pdf
Japan Student Services Organization. (2014). 2012 Report of Japanese students participating in study abroad programs through partnerships and etc. (Heisei 24 nendo kyouteitou ni motoduku nihonjin gakusei kaigairyuugaku jyoukyou chousa kekka). Retrieved November 25, 2018 from https://www.jasso.go.jp/about/statistics/intl_student_s/2013/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2016/01/28/short_term12.pdf
Japan Student Services Organization. (2016). 2014 Report of Japanese students participating in study abroad programs through partnerships and etc. (Heisei 26 nendo kyouteitou ni motoduku nihonjin gakusei kaigairyuugaku jyoukyou chousa kekka). Retrieved November 25, 2018 from https://www.jasso.go.jp/about/statistics/intl_student_s/2015/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2016/03/25/short_term14.pdf
Japan Student Services Organization. (2017). 2016 Report of Japanese students participating in study abroad programs through partnerships and etc. (Heisei 28 nendo kyouteitou ni motoduku nihonjin gakusei kaigairyuugaku jyoukyou chousa kekka). Retrieved November 25, 2018 from https://www.jasso.go.jp/about/statistics/intl_student_s/2017/__icsFiles/afieldfile/2018/12/21/short_term16_181221.pdf
Kehl, K. L., & Morris, J. (2008). Differences in global-mindedness between short-term and semester-long study abroad participants at selected private universities. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, XV, 67–79.
Lee, J., & Negrelli, K. (2018). Cultural identification, acculturation, and academic experience abroad: A case of a joint faculty-led short-term study abroad program. Journal of International Students, 8(2), 1152–1172.
Lemmons, K. (2015). Short-term study abroad: Culture and the path of least resistance. Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 39(4), 543–553.
Martin, R., Schnickel, J., & Maruyama, Y. (2010). A possible selves analysis: Japanese university students in a study abroad program. Intercultural Communication Studies, XIX(2), 202–216.
Matera, C., Imai, T., & Pinzic, S. (2018). Do you think like me? Perceived concordance concerning contact and culture maintenance on international students’ intentions for contact with the host-society. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 63, 27–37.
Medina-Lopez-Portillo, A. (2004). Intercultural learning assessment: The link between program duration and the development of intercultural sensitivity. Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, X, 179–200.
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT). (2017). 2016 white paper on education, culture, sports, science and technology. Retrieved November 25, 2018 from http://www.mext.go.jp/b_menu/hakusho/html/hpab201701/1389013_017.pdf
Nguyen, A, D., Jefferies, J., & Rojas, B. (2018). Short term, big impact? Changes in self-efficacy and cultural intelligence, and the adjustment of multicultural and monocultural students abroad. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 66,119–129.
Nichols, K. P. (2011). Fostering intercultural competence through study abroad: A gender-based analysis of individual and program factors influencing development. University of Minnesota Libraries Digital Conservancy. Retrieved November 25, 2018 from http://conservancy.umn.edu/bitstream/handle/11299/119984/?sequence=1
Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2016). Science, technology and innovation outlook 2016. Available at https://www.oecd.org/fr/sti/oecd-science-technology-and-innovation-outlook-25186167.htm
Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development. (2017). Education at a glance 2017. Available at https://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/education/education-at-a-glance-2017_eag-2017-en
Pedersen, P. (2010). Assessing intercultural effectiveness outcomes in a yearlong study abroad program. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 34(1), 70–80.
The Prime Minister of Japan and His Cabinet. (2015). Japan Revitalization Strategy - Japan is back. Retrieved November 25, 2018 from http://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/singi/keizaisaisei/pdf/saikou_jpn.pdf
Rodriguez, S. R., & Chornet-Roses, D. (2014). How ‘family’ is your host family?: An examination of student–host relationships during study abroad. International Journal of Intercultural Relations,39, 164–174.
Spitzberg, B. H., & Changnon, G. (2009). Conceptualizing intercultural competence. In D. K. Deadorff (Ed.), The SAGE handbook of intercultural competence (pp.2–52). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE.
Tanaka, K. (2007). Japanese students’ contact with English outside the classroom during study abroad. New Zealand Studies in Applied Linguistics, 13(1), 36–54.
Vande Berg, M., Connor-Linton, J., & Paige, R. M. (2009). The Georgetown Consortium Project: Interventions for study abroad learning. The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad, 18, 1–75.
Walsh, R., & Walsh, M. (2018). In their own words: American students’ perspectives on study abroad experiences. The Humanistic Psychologist, 46(2), 129–146.
Williams, T. R. (2005). Exploring the impact of study abroad on students' intercultural communication skills: Adaptability and sensitivity. Journal of Studies in International Education, 9(4), 356–371.
Willy, A. (2017). Validation analysis of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). Las Vegas, NV: ACE Ventures.
Wooldridge, D. G., Peet, S., & Meyer, L. L. (2018). Transforming professionals through short-term study-abroad experiences. Delta Kappa Gamma Bulletin, 84(4), 31–36.
Yarosha, M., Lukic, D., & Santibáñez-Gruber, R. (2018). Intercultural competence for students in international joint master programmes. International Journal of Intercultural Relations,66, 52–72.
Downloads
Published
License
All published articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 Unported License.
