Improving language teaching through immersive global experiences and cultural exchange

Improving language teaching through immersive global experiences and cultural exchange

A strong partnership between Australia and Japan is improving language education and global experiences for pre-service teachers and enriching school students’ education.

SDGs

The long-term partnership led by RMIT University’s Dr Naomi Wilks-Smith and Kochi University’s Professor Darren Lingley includes practice-based research programs where participants gain invaluable international teaching and learning experiences.

The partnership has grown to involve a range of collaborators including government education departments, universities, and nine schools from both countries. 

Global experience research project

Wilks-Smith is a language education specialist, teacher and researcher whose expertise includes second language teaching methodology and bilingual education. Her work involves the integrated scholarship of research and education practice. She is particularly interested in innovative approaches for second language learning and passionate about embracing learners' languages and linguistic and culturally inclusive practices.

While it is widely accepted that global experiences or short-term study abroad is beneficial for students, Wilks-Smith said more evidence was needed to determine whether global competencies really do develop, and how they can be measured. 

Wilks-Smith and colleague Lingley also noted the need for more context-specific studies given there are so many different programs and resulting impacts.  

In 2019, they led a qualitative study that used journal entries from Australian and Japanese student pre-service teachers while attending a global experience to Kochi, Japan and Melbourne, Australia. The bilateral project offered mentoring and support for the students, intensive language teaching experiences and field study including learning about teaching methodology at several host schools.

The program involved university staff and students from RMIT and Kochi University, partner schools, and the local communities in both countries.

The significant benefits for participants were summed up by a student, Barbara.

“My experience in Kochi was unforgettable. From teaching at regional primary schools, to learning about Japanese culture and cuisine - every day was a highlight,” she said.

“I believed we had gone with the purpose of teaching English, but from the moment we arrived I knew it would be so much more than that.

“I discovered so much about Japanese pedagogy and behavioural strategies, the importance of responsibility in the classroom and consequently was able to bring home a new set of teaching strategies to use in my future classrooms,” she said.

Professor Darren Lingley from Kochi University also noted the benefits for Japanese students and teachers.

“These international, intercultural learnings were especially impactful in Japan where schools rarely experience cultural or linguistic diversity in the rural context of Kochi Japan and communities rarely even see international tourists,” he said.

Key findings of the research revealed transformative impact in areas including:

  • personal learning and development
  • professional learning
  • authentic speaking opportunities in Japanese and English
  • teaching pedagogy
  • teaching practice, flexibility and adaptability in different contexts
We are delighted that the language education students from Australia and Japan who participated in our recent practice-based global experience program described their involvement as ‘life-changing’.

-Naomi Wilks-Smith

Dr Wilks-Smith said all involved have benefitted from intercultural communications and understanding, learning new and different pedagogical approaches and broadening perspectives and global knowledge.

Further details of the research and findings have been published in the book Championing Cutting-Edge 21st Century Mentoring and Learning Models and Approaches. Brill Sense: The Netherlands. (ISBN 2542-9728. DOI 10.1163/9789004440371_010).

Other impacts from the practice-based research partnership

Fostering long-term sister school relationships

Two of the primary schools from Kochi and Victoria that joined the program have developed a sister-school relationship with joint projects to enrich their students’ learning.

Wilks-Smith said the benefits for students and teachers have been significant. 

“This ongoing relationship between the schools provides a sustainable source of joint-teaching and gives students opportunities for international and intercultural communication, international friendships, and learning language and culture in-context,” she said.

Wilks-Smith said the fact that it was a long-term partnership also helped teachers to plan for focused and engaging activities that give a real purpose for communicating. 

“For example, they have worked together online to conduct cooking classes, where partners on both sides have pre-planned ingredients for traditional recipes,” she said. 

“Obviously there are strong academic benefits, but also many personal student impacts with those kinds of experiences too,” she said. 

    Kochi University students said their time in Melbourne at RMIT and the program’s partnership schools was one of the highlights of their university experience. Kochi University students said their time in Melbourne at RMIT and the program’s partnership schools was one of the highlights of their university experience.

Indigenous community school connections

Another project has primary school students from diverse communities developing storytelling films to be shared with each other and beyond.

Community Banashi: Stories of place from Australia and Japan involves an Australian homeland primary school in Garrthalala, Northern Territory Australia where education is delivered in the homeland Indigenous language, Yolngu Matha. The Japanese children participating in the project attend Kagami Shogakkoo, a regional Japanese primary school in the mountainous area of Kochi. 

Wilks-Smith said the Japanese students will share stories about their community’s temple festival that is celebrated each November.

“Part of the tradition over many generations has been to prepare young students for the festival,” she said. 

Students from Garrthalala will share the community lipalipa boat story.

“The project will involve community elders, family, parents, and other leaders, mentoring students and sharing in the telling of long-held community stories, passing on knowledge, traditions and history. 

“In Kochi, a traditional dance teacher, a temple priest, and festival organisers are involved, while in Garrthalala, Northern Territory, the community elders and parents are also involved,” said Wilks-Smith.

The films are set to be shared to an international audience online and will feature in a screening at Melbourne’s Federation Square in 2023.  

International Association developed

Wilks-Smith, Lingley and colleagues founded a new professional association, TEFL Praxis Association to bring together researchers and practicing language teachers from across the globe to improve language teaching and inform research.

“The aim of this work is to build praxis-based English as Foreign Language teaching pedagogy through research-informed teaching and teacher-informed research,” said Wilks-Smith. 

“We are keen to help foster innovative classroom practice and student experiences in second language learning contexts across the world,” she said.

Activities include sharing insights and research via an annual International TEFL Praxis Conference, online newsletter and publications. 

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.