This qualitative research investigated Asian exchange students’ voices on their purposes, aspirations, and concerns before their departure for study abroad in Japan. Research on international exchange students’ study abroad experiences in non-English speaking countries such as Japan has been limited, and more qualitative research is needed, focusing on culturally specific issues. The need of longitudinal study on students’ study abroad experiences has been raised, including pre-departure time. This research fills the gap by investigating Asian students’ voices before departing for Japan, as part of the longitudinal study of multinational students’ study abroad experiences, from pre-departure time through reentry. The researcher conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews.

Interviews revealed that students’ purposes were to acquire Japanese language proficiency, meet local students and international students, and explore possibility of attending graduate school in Japan or career related to Japan. Students’ academic concerns were different teaching styles, class comprehension in Japanese, competition with local students, and taking classes with international students in English. Students were also concerned with their lack of cultural knowledge about Japan and possible impoliteness towards professors, and their linguistic competence of Japanese and English to develop friendship with local students and Western students. Some students developed precognition about Japanese people’s attitudes towards foreigners and impossibility of being employed in Japan.

Most of students had only vague ideas about host culture and university. Program and culture specific pre-departure guidance by the university about Japanese society, host university, and its support system will better prepare students interculturally and maximize their study abroad experiences.

Authors:
Naomi Tsunematsu, Hiroshima University, Japan

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Naomi Tsunematsu is a Professor in Morito Institute of Global Higher Education, Hiroshima University in Japan. Her current research interests are international students’ education, international experiential learning, and intercultural education.

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