The Role Virtual Exchange Could Play in Helping Prepare Students for Real-Life Study Abroad

Autor/in	Ryan, Andrew
Titel	The Role Virtual Exchange Could Play in Helping Prepare Students for Real-Life Study Abroad
Quelle	(2020), (14 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Zusatzinformation	ORCID (Ryan, Andrew)
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Computer Simulation; Study Abroad; Culture Conflict; Financial Support; Student Attitudes; English (Second Language); Second Language Instruction; Second Language Learning; Foreign Countries; Self Esteem; Cultural Awareness; Educational Experience; Exchange Programs; College Students; Anxiety; Student Surveys; Teaching Methods; Computer Mediated Communication; Problem Solving; Student Adjustment; Acculturation; Japan + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Computergrafik; Computersimulation; Studies abroad; Auslandsstudium; Kulturkonflikt; Finanzielle Förderung; Schülerverhalten; English as second language; English; Second Language; Englisch als Zweitsprache; Fremdsprachenunterricht; Zweitsprachenerwerb; Ausland; Self-esteem; Selbstaufmerksamkeit; Cultural identity; Kulturelle Identität; Bildungserfahrung; Exchange programme; Exchange program; Exchange programmes; Austauschprogramm; Collegestudent; Angst; Schülerbefragung; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Computerkonferenz; Problemlösen; Student; Students; Adjustment; Schüler; Schülerin; Studentin; Adaptation; Akkulturation
Abstract	More and more Japanese students are studying abroad and the Japanese government has set a target of 180,000 students to study abroad each year by 2020 and is providing financial assistance to students to help achieve this goal. However, is financial assistance enough? Surveys conducted with students from a national education-focused university in northern Japan, before and after their study abroad experience, show that they feel underprepared before they leave to go overseas and regret not fulfilling the opportunities they had while abroad. The key areas identified where they needed assistance were with their English language ability, confidence building, and intercultural awareness. This paper suggests that doing a Virtual Exchange (VE) before they travel could help students in all of these areas. It could provide much needed language support, motivation to explore other cultures and share their own, and deliver the confidence to enable them to become more outgoing and make the most of the opportunities presented by studying overseas. Additionally, there is a case to be argued, that VE could help reduce the impact of culture shock. Overall, it is very likely that the use of VE prior to departure could improve students' study abroad experience. The author also understands that more research is needed on this and proposes a further study comparing students who have studied abroad without conducting VE in advance to those who have, to try and assess its impact on the study abroad experience. [For the complete volume, "Virtual Exchange in the Asia Pacific: Research and Practice," see ED610332.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01