Exploring and Promoting English Study Abroad Beyond the Inner Circle

As a university that prioritises second language education and international collaboration, study abroad programs have been a major part of both the curriculum and identity of Momoyama Gakuin University. Currently, the study abroad programs are going through a stage of transition, as we restart study abroad after two years of travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In this stage, we have found that previous partners have cancelled their programs, and due to inflation and currency fluctuation, previously popular destinations such as the USA have become prohibitively expensive for many students. Therefore, English study abroad programs that offer more affordable high quality English education and chances to use English outside the classroom in Asian countries close to Japan are the most obvious and pragmatic option. However, questions still remain if students will be as eager to study abroad in countries outside the so-called Inner Circle English countries such as Australia, Canada and the USA. This paper reviews research on Japanese students’ experiences and learning outcomes of studying English in Outer Circle and Expanding Circle countries in Asia. Insights from this research will be useful for the successful implementation and promotion of new study abroad programs at the university.departmental bulletin pape