Factors contributing to low levels of intercultural interaction between Japanese and international students in Japan

Abstract

This paper is a continuation of the discussion of the results of a series of studies (n=465) in which low levels of intercultural interaction between Japanese and international students were observed. While the analysis of the data in the studies was conducted at a micro level and has been completed, the perspective of the current paper is at a macro level. The low levels of intercultural interaction is a matter of great concern because young Japanese need the experience to function in intercultural contexts. Within Japan, the population is declining and aging rapidly and immigrants are expected to supplement the workforce. Current methods of English language teaching also render the standards of spoken English insufficient for it to function as lingua franca.