Incorporating the International Virtual Exchange Project into English Curricula in Japan – Benefits and Issues

Abstract

The Japanese government’s ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology rightly promoted the “Concept of Global Human Resource Development” in 2010 and continued to do so in the second basic plan for the Promotion of Education in 2013 and thereafter. Specifically the plans note that “it is important to cultivate global human resources who possess rich linguistic abilities, communication abilities, autonomy, and positivity, and who are able to work actively in various fields with an intercultural understanding spirit.” [1]. The proposed goal is worthy but attaining it is extremely difficult for the majority of Japanese students unless technology is used. This paper states that Virtual Exchange (VE) is the key to ensuring students throughout Japan can interact with students in other cultures, thereby becoming exposed to new ideas where intercultural understanding can develop and the goals, outlined in the second basic plan, can be achieved.