The Experiences of International Students in Japanese Bachelor Programs

Abstract

This study aimed to understand the experiences of international students in Japanese bachelor programs by exploring factors related to their Japanese language proficiency. A total of seventy-nine international undergraduate students responded to the online survey. In the analysis, descriptive and bivariate statistics were performed for all international undergraduate students, including the JEP (Japan-Expert Program) students who had been educated in the Japanese language. In the bivariate statistics, the relation between Japanese language proficiency against demographics, GPA (Grade Point Average), campus life and health status were examined. As a result, the following two points were revealed: i) among all international students, those with lower Japanese language proficiency faced more difficulty in understanding course contents, having part-time jobs, being in the upper grades, and had poorer perceived sleep quality; ii) in JEP students, those with low Japanese proficiency had a lower GPA. Thus, the Japanese language proficiency of international students in bachelor-degree programs is related to their grades, part-time jobs, and sleep quality, especially GPAs in JEP students. To support these students, it is necessary to provide continuous and comprehensive Japanese language education, including lifestyle and learning support, from the time of admission to graduation.

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