The Study Abroad program is a unique opportunity for undergraduate students to expand their knowledge beyond the classroom. According to the Institute for the International Education of Students (IES), studying abroad has a significant impact on academic success, personal growth, and future career progression in the long term. Typically offered during the summer, the faculty-directed programs require participants to complete prerequisites before embarking on the trip and earn credits while studying abroad. While preparation is crucial, there is limited understanding and research on the effectiveness of the language-focused logistical-oriented pre-departure preparation for study abroad programs (Lemmons, 23).
Based on the report from the Institute of International Education’s Open Doors Data, the number of U.S. students studying abroad in Japan has been on the rise since 2011, reaching a peak of almost 9,000 U.S. students in 2018-2019. Having geographical awareness plays a key role while traveling to a foreign country, the majority of the students have limited geographical knowledge of the country they are visiting, as interdisciplinary courses such as Geography of Japan are not often offered during regular semesters. This online mini-course will fill in the missing pieces of geographical recognition and enhance their understanding of the country with the intent of enacting formative practice and offering multiple self-check and debrief assignments integrated into Canvas LMS for personalized learning.
Sachiyo Kawaiʻaeʻa