Promoting global competence through action-oriented approach: A two-phase exploratory mixed methods study in Japanese universities

Abstract

The present study employed a two-phase exploratory mixed methods design in English as a foreign language (EFL) classes at two private Japanese universities to gain a deeper understanding of students’ perceptions of AoA and its influence on their perceived global competence (GC) awareness. The qualitative data revealed that students developed enhanced intercultural adaptability, respect, and tolerance, and cross-cultural knowledge, while demonstrating improved communicative practices in production, reception, interaction, and mediation. Subsequently, in Study 2, participants completed online surveys using adapted versions of Mohammed-Ismail and Prasantha-Kumar (2023) AoA scale and Coffey et al. (2013) GC scale after a semester-long exposure to AoA activities (N = 201). Both the linear regression analysis and the subsequent structural equation model indicated that AoA was positively associated with students’ perceived GC, suggesting a possible link between AoA and GC. Further research is warranted to validate these findings across diverse educational and cultural contexts.