Some issues of foreign students in a japanese school: a pilot study in Mie

Abstract

This paper focuses on issues facing foreign students currently studying in a junior high school in Japan. A questionnaire was given to these students to determine what issues they face and the results are discussed below. The author introduces some measures to support the students by the school. In addition, the author makes some suggestions for creating a better environment of the "internationalized classrooms" and how it can be made and maintained.This questionnaire, as a pilot study, was conducted in a junior high school of Mie Prefecture in February through March 2007. The questions the subjects were asked were (1) what language(s) they use to talk with their parents/families at home, (2) how much they use Japanese daily, (3) how much they usually understand the contents in social studies class, (4) how much they usually understand the contents in mathematics class, (5) if they are interested in studying Japanese, (6) if they are studying Japanese in a supplementary class, (7) if they are interested in studying English, and (8) if they are studying the languages of their own countries.The results demonstrate the students' multi-nationalization with a variety of their native languages. They also imply the necessity of comprehensive educational measures to help these students acquire/study Japanese as the instructional medium at school.