Measuring the Behavioral Dimension of Intercultural Communicative Competence among Study Abroad Students: Insights from Japanese Speech Style Shifting
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| Title: | Measuring the Behavioral Dimension of Intercultural Communicative Competence among Study Abroad Students: Insights from Japanese Speech Style Shifting |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Hiromi Tobaru |
| Source: | Frontiers: The Interdisciplinary Journal of Study Abroad. 2025 37(3):122-153. |
| Availability: | Frontiers Journal. Dickinson College P.O. Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013. Tel: 717-254-8858; Fax: 717-245-1677; Web site: https://www.frontiersjournal.org/index.php/Frontiers |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 32 |
| Publication Date: | 2025 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Higher Education Postsecondary Education |
| Descriptors: | Foreign Countries, Intercultural Communication, Study Abroad, Undergraduate Students, Public Colleges, Research Universities, Second Language Learning, Student Behavior, Language Usage, Language Styles, Language Variation, Japanese |
| Geographic Terms: | Japan, United States |
| DOI: | 10.36366/frontiers.v37i3.878 |
| ISSN: | 1085-4568 2380-8144 |
| Abstract: | Measuring study-abroad (SA) students' intercultural communicative competence (ICC) has been a challenging task. Simply comparing pre- and post-SA language proficiency test results may not capture the full extent of ICC development. This study explores the behavioral dimension of ICC among SA students by examining changes in Japanese speech style shifting, thereby providing a nuanced understanding of ICC development. The mixed-methods analysis revealed that participants shifted their speech style more actively in post-SA interviews than in pre-SA interviews. Qualitative analysis further indicated that participants' style shifting in post-SA interviews helped them appear more approachable while maintaining an appropriate level of formality and politeness, which suggests growth in ICC. These findings emphasize the broader applicability of examining speech style-shifting across languages as a measure of the behavioral dimension of ICC in SA programs. The study also discusses pedagogical implications and offers directions for future research on measuring ICC in SA contexts. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2025 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1489358 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Measuring study-abroad (SA) students' intercultural communicative competence (ICC) has been a challenging task. Simply comparing pre- and post-SA language proficiency test results may not capture the full extent of ICC development. This study explores the behavioral dimension of ICC among SA students by examining changes in Japanese speech style shifting, thereby providing a nuanced understanding of ICC development. The mixed-methods analysis revealed that participants shifted their speech style more actively in post-SA interviews than in pre-SA interviews. Qualitative analysis further indicated that participants' style shifting in post-SA interviews helped them appear more approachable while maintaining an appropriate level of formality and politeness, which suggests growth in ICC. These findings emphasize the broader applicability of examining speech style-shifting across languages as a measure of the behavioral dimension of ICC in SA programs. The study also discusses pedagogical implications and offers directions for future research on measuring ICC in SA contexts. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1085-4568 2380-8144 |
| DOI: | 10.36366/frontiers.v37i3.878 |
