Promoting Intercultural Sensitivity and Awareness of English as a Lingua Franca Through the Model U.N. (67309)
Session Chair: Akiko Kano
Friday, January 6, 2023 (16:40)
Session: Session 5
Room: 317A
Presentation Type:Oral Presentation
Japan University English Model United Nations (JUEMUN) is an academic simulation of the UN that includes discussion, negotiation, and public speaking concerning international affairs. Participants are referred to as delegates and given opportunities to represent different countries on different committees, gaining authentic experience of English as a lingua franca (ELF).
Focus group interviews were conducted among the total of 20 participants from Bunkyo University, Japan, after the three-day JUEMUN conferences in Kobe and Kyoto. The following perspectives were discussed: 1. In what ways, in theory and in practice, could their communication in English foster intercultural sensitivity through participation in JUEMUN? 2. In what ways and to what extent does their preparation and participation in JUEMUN promote international understanding? 3. In what ways can communication in English as a lingua franca contribute to global understanding in multilingual contexts?
Participants stressed that language respect towards multidisciplinary ELF speakers is indispensable for mutual understanding in global communities. When ELF is regarded as the primary contact language for building relationship among different language speakers, people have to learn how to be tolerant and mindful of varieties, particularly for those who are less-proficient speakers of ELF. Regarding less-proficient ELF speakers, they need to be more aware of the importance of their 'listenability' and 'intelligibility' of their language production (Ikuta & Takahashi, 2014) in order to be understood by a variety of English speakers from all over the world.
Authors:
Yuko Ikuta, Bunkyo University, Japan
About the Presenter(s)
Professor Yuko Ikuta is a University Professor/Principal Lecturer at Bunkyo University in Japan
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