Purposes and Aspirations of Western Students for Study Abroad in Japan

Conference: The Asian Conference on Education (ACE2022)
Title: Purposes and Aspirations of Western Students for Study Abroad in Japan
Stream: International Education
Presentation Type: Live-Stream Presentation
Authors:
Naomi Tsunematsu, Hiroshima University, Japan

Abstract:

This research investigated Western exchange students’ purposes and aspirations for study abroad in Japan by hearing students’ voices at pre-departure time. Western students’ intercultural experiences in Japan, which is culturally unfamiliar destination, have not been researched sufficiently, and students’ initial aspirations have been rarely investigated. Additionally, the lack of longitudinal study on students’ study abroad experiences has been raised. This research fills the gap by investigating the voices of exchange students from North America, Europe, and Oceania departing for Japan for study abroad, as part of the longitudinal study of multinational exchange students’ study abroad experiences from departure through reentry. Students’ narratives disclosed that Western students’ common purposes and their various aspirations, dreams, and concerns about their newly incoming life in Japan. Students had strong wish to acquire Japanese language proficiency, to interact with local students, and to connect their valuable experiences to their future career related to Japan. They were also seeking the opportunities of new self-discovery in new intercultural experiences. Simultaneously, they had concerns about their Japanese language proficiency and intercultural knowledge about Japanese society. Most of students were concerned about their possible inappropriate behavior due to their lack of knowledge about Japanese courtesy and customs in culturally unfamiliar host society. The research indicated university’s intercultural support is crucial for Western students to maximize their study abroad experiences in host country, especially when they are departing for culturally unfamiliar destination.

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