The Impact of Culture-Based Japanese Language Learning on the Intercultural Communication Competence of Prospective Indonesian Migrant Workers
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17507/tpls.1604.27Keywords:
intercultural communication competence, learning motivation, Japanese culture, Japanese language learningAbstract
Prospective migrant workers require intercultural communication competence with their host country. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of culture-based Japanese language instruction on the intercultural communication competence of prospective Indonesian migrant workers. This study used a mixed methods approach to uncover intercultural communication competence data for prospective migrant workers through quantitative and qualitative data. Participants were 256 prospective Indonesian migrant workers studying Japanese. The instruments used in this study were a scale measuring Japanese intercultural communication competence, learning motivation, and Japanese language ability. Data analysis employed descriptive statistics, t-tests, and ANOVA to investigate intercultural communication competence. The research findings indicate that learning Japanese language and culture can improve intercultural communication competence by instilling the Japanese cultural values of Seiri (succinctness), Seiton (neatness), Seiso (cleanliness), Seiketsu (care), and Shitsuke (discipline), as well as motivation to learn Japanese, and improve Japanese language skills. Knowledge of Japanese culture, enhanced intercultural awareness, and self-efficacy in cultural contexts all demonstrate improved intercultural communication competency. Motivation to learn Japanese increases in aspects of self-efficacy, external motivation, integrated motivation, and motivation to learn Japanese for work. Japanese language skills improve in aspects of vocabulary knowledge, sentence structure, and the use of culturally appropriate expressions. Therefore, learning Japanese language and culture can improve intercultural communication competence, motivation to learn Japanese, and Japanese language skills. The implication of this research is that second language learning must be integrated with the cultural context of communication of native speakers of the target language.
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