Comments on: Who’s inward-looking?

By: Hiddenmaverick

Hiddenmaverick — Mon, 14 Apr 2014 14:46:46 +0000

While your article is appreciated. Now in 2014 there is statistical evidence from Japan’s own government that since 2004 Japan’s students have been studying abroad less and less.
2004 saw about 82,000 students abroad.
2010 saw nearly 58,000 students abroad.

Even when calculating for population growth and decline, it’s still a clear indicator that the last decade was in decline.

This is for anyone who read this article for research purposes and needed some clarification.

By: Lisa Fairbrother

Lisa Fairbrother — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:44:14 +0000

Interesting piece but the situation at my institution, Sophia University in Tokyo, is quite different. Over the past few years we have witnessed a significant drop in the number of applicants for ALL our overseas study abroad exchange programmes, whether they be to English or non-English-speaking countries. We believe that this is related primarily to economic factors: parents can no longer afford to send their kids overseas for extended periods of time and many students believe (probably falsely) that studying abroad will lower their chances of getting a good job because they won’t be in Japan for the full job-hunting season.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 13:48:56 +0000

In choosing between China and America to study, I would have thought that the cost of study and the economic return obtained from the education and qualification would be the least important factors. I’ve never been to China, but wouldn’t students expect to obtain a radically different experience from living there as opposed to the USA? Surely interest in the country, it’s people and culture must be much more major factors than how well recognised the qualification will be if the students return to Japan?

And that article seems to suggest that it is company managers who discourage Japanese from going abroad – by not valuing their qualifications or the skills they learn – not that Japanese people don’t want to study in other countries.

By: Hongyan

Hongyan — Sun, 16 Jan 2011 12:38:00 +0000

In reply to Dariush Izadi. I agree with Ingrid. Neither is particularly representative. If we want to explore the reasons that caused what you have observed in CME courses, we have to dig into a lot of different reasons including the learners internal reasons and other fatctors caused by educational tradition, social, cultural and history factors, etc.

By: Ingrid Piller

Ingrid Piller — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 04:04:28 +0000

In reply to Dariush Izadi.

Well, in a nation of 130 million there’s bound to be some diversity … based on the stats, the Japanese students you’ve met seem to be an even smaller minority than those going to China, and in all likelihood neither is particularly representative …

By: Dariush Izadi

Dariush Izadi — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 00:45:18 +0000

Dear Kimie
That might be true. However, in my personal experience, I believe the reverse.
I’ve been teaching English at the Center for Macquarie English (CME) for the past two years. I’ve met lots of Japanese and Chinese students. I also had both of them in my class. Almost all of the Japanese that I knew and taught weren’t interested to do group work with their Chinese counterparts! More interestingly, when they (the Japanese) were asked to do an assignment or share half of a presentation as a group work assignment with their Chinese counterparts, the performance was remarkably poor! ,compared to those Japanese who did so with other nationalities say the Spanish, the Arabs or even the Koreans!
On Facebook, some of my students usually comment that they love to stay here in Australia and that they don’t want to get back to Japan even for holidays! Some would even prefer to study in the US!

By: steven

steven — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 06:41:10 +0000

it will be interesting to see if Japanese business recognises graduates with Chinese experience and ability.. after 20 years of economic stagnation, it is really important for Japanese business to re-invent itself to meet the economic and social changes the country faces…

By: khan

khan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 18:42:19 +0000

Dear Kimie A thought provoking post. It brings out so
clearly that students are smarter than politicians, They know what
works for them. Your post is also interesting in terms of metaphors
used by the writer for country and human beings: Zoo, Safari,
Predatory. They are very helpful in understanding the authors
conceptualization of human world through jungle/ animal metaphors.
Are we really in a zoo, safari or jungle if we dont go to a
particular country? Very interesting read Khan

By: Hongyan

Hongyan — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 13:33:57 +0000

Thanks, Kimie, wonderful post. I agree with you: The
“inward-looking” ones are those who chide them for no longer
heading to the USA and other English-speaking countries en masse.
Personally I think the choice of which country to go for pursuing
further education depends on the following factors: the cost of
study and its foreseeable return, the prospect of the economic
development of the target country and its potential position in the
world and the immigration possibility after getting a degree (of
course, China is not in the list). The immigration factor greatly
determines the choice of most students to study overseas. I want to
share some popular words Chinese people use to address the overseas
returned students. 1. 海归 Haigui : They are in hot demand in
employment market. It represents decent job with wonderful pay.
(before 2000) 2. 海燕 Haiyan: They are no longer in hot demand but
still can find jobs. (2001-2008) 3. 海待/带 Haidai: They are
temporarily unable to find a job.

By: Liu Hailin

Liu Hailin — Tue, 11 Jan 2011 03:54:04 +0000

impressive