Japanese University Students’ Study Abroad Experiences : Views on English as an International Language

This study examines how Japanese university students’ views of English as an International Language (EIL) changed through a long-term study abroad experience in Australia. Forty-four third-year university students who participated in a ten-month study abroad program completed an anonymous online questionnaire after returning to Japan. The questionnaire included Likert-scale and open-ended questions examining participants’ perceptions of native-speaker norms, comfort with diverse English varieties, communicative experiences abroad, and post-study abroad attitudes toward English. Quantitative results show a clear shift away from native-speaker-oriented views and increased comfort communicating with English users from diverse linguistic backgrounds. Qualitative analysis further reveals that frequent interaction with both native and non-native English speakers, coupled with communication breakdowns and negotiation of meaning, led students to reconceptualize “correct English” as effective communication rather than grammatical or native-like accuracy. Participants also reported increased confidence, strategic flexibility, and awareness of English as a global communicative resource. The findings suggest that study abroad experiences can foster EIL-oriented perspectives and support the development of more realistic, inclusive understandings of English use in international contexts.