Abstract
In order to identify the typology of cross-cultural contact by Japanese hosts, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 Japanese students, who have experienced close interactions with international students. The narratives of the informants were analyzed on the basis of the framework of the AUC-GS learning model. The aspects of cross-cultural "awareness, understanding, and coping" were studied. The informants were examined with regard to whether they noticed the existence of cultural differences, understood the occurring mechanisms of cross-cultural problems, and successfully coped with those problems. The informants were divided into six categories. Some informants exhibited considerable awareness regarding cultural differences, understood problems between cultures, and thus, coped well. The educational challenges faced by Japanese host students are discussed in this study.
