留学の意思決定と人生における意味―大規模アンケート調査による分析―

抄録

Looking at study abroad trends worldwide, we have shifted from government-controlled study abroad to an era where people choose to study abroad based on their own volition. However, even amidst the so-called international student explosion, Japanese international students, especially the number of traditional study abroad program participants, lags behind. This paper examines the results of Japan’s first comprehensive survey of the impact of study abroad (4,489 respondents). The survey covered topics including how study abroad had improved their abilities, influenced their career, changed their values and behaviors, and impacted their overall satisfaction with life. This paper focuses primarily on the results from participants who studied abroad as undergraduates compared to those without study abroad experience.

The results indicate students with study abroad experience were more proactive towards classes and extracurricular activities than their counterparts without study abroad experience. Overall, those with study abroad experience responded with greater levels of the measured indices especially in regard to foreign language competency and the ability to deal with other cultures as well as resilience to stress, problem-solving abilities and critical thinking skills. In addition, the results of covariance structure analysis indicated that although study abroad did not directly correlate to greater life satisfaction, there were indirect correlations especially for those who studied abroad as undergraduates and in particular, their level of proactive participation in class. Unlike undergraduates, the results from respondents who studied abroad during high school indicated that study abroad correlated to their understanding of the host country and subsequent participation in community activities and exchange activities.