Learning Honorific Communication with the Jigsaw Method

Intercultural Understanding through Diversity

Abstract

It is important to train university students in communication skills to enable them to survive in the present-day diverse society. Both international students and Japanese students at Japanese universities must learn Japanese honorific expressions. This paper describes the use of the student-centered Jigsaw method in enabling students to learn about communication, including honorifics, which is called “honorific communication.” The Jigsaw method has been reported to enable deep learning and endow students with a sense of responsibility. Using this method, students who participated in this study gained full knowledge of communication skills and a deep understanding of different cultures by learning about “honorific communication,” which emphasizes variations in communication style according to relationships, age, and region. The results of this study indicate that the Jigsaw method is successful in enabling intercultural understanding as well as the construction of knowledge.