Jean Taylor

School trips, which take place in the second year at Japanese high schools, are a major event in the lives of students here.  At the speaker’s high school, around 150 students in the ‘academic course’ go to California for two weeks, living with a family there.  For some this is a highly anticipated prospect; for others it is a major source of stress.  

Through surveys taken just before and after the trip, the speaker has delved into what effects the experience has on such points as their interest in speaking English and their confidence in their abilities. Follow-up questionnaires have also been used to try to trace exactly what caused changes in students’ attitudes.  In the second year of the study, a questionnaire in the first class in April ascertained the students’ starting point in terms of attitude towards English and the upcoming trip in order to see what effect classes might have on their motivation and interest in English as the year went on.   

From within the wealth of data that was produced, a clear picture emerged of the effects of this two-week overseas homestay-style school trip, which will be described by the speaker.