2024 Volume 12 Issue 1 Pages 2-13
The purpose of this paper was to facilitate intercultural exposure for Japanese junior high school students and to capture its educational effects using Deardorff's process model of intercultural competence as a framework. Specifically, ten 8th graders engaged in six online exchanges with Taiwanese students, focusing on the theme of environmental issues. The effectiveness of the activities was assessed through questionnaires on “PISA 2018 Global Competence” and “International Posture” as well as semi-structured interviews. The results showed the development of intercultural competences in accordance with Deardorff's model concepts. Particularly, critical thinking was identified as a mediator to transform both internal and external transformations online, but also as applied to everyday interaction among their friends. I conclude that the outcome of intercultural exchanges have been shown to be applicable in diverse contexts.
