Understanding the Difficulties in Building Intercultural Relationships from Perspectives of American Students and Japanese Students during a Short-term Study Abroad in Japan

Abstract

Research on study abroad (SA) reported American students’ struggles of developing personal relationships with local people. Theses studies often focus on American students’ perceptions on their SA experiences as well as intercultural interaction. Because personal relationships cannot be built without mutual understanding and acceptance, obtaining the local people’s perceptions toward intercultural relationships is essential to addressing American students’ struggles. This case study investigates American and Japanese local students’ perceptions towards building intercultural relationships in a four-week SA program in Japan. Interviews were conducted with American college students who participated in the SA program, and Japanese students who participated in the program as Japanese language partners. The paper presents the local Japanese students’ struggles with the American students’ passive attitude and too formal behaviors, and American SA students’ struggles with casual speech style usage. Based on the findings, this paper discusses the implications for pre-departure orientations, the limitations of the current and future research implications.

Keywords

• study abroad
• pedagogical support for study abroad
• cultural differences
• intercultural communication
• Japanese