Revisiting English attitudes of Japanese students in residential English schools in the Philippines after COVID-19

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines Japanese students’ attitudes toward English learning in residential schools in the Philippines during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on their language learning experiences. The study conducted in-depth interviews with eight Japanese students studying in the Philippines in December 2022. Despite the pandemic, the students remained motivated to pursue their studies in the Philippines. Their responses were consistent with pre-pandemic times, as they had chosen the Philippines for its affordability, good-quality education, and diverse range of accents and cultures, allowing them to experience English as a lingua franca and World Englishes. Moreover, this trend was accelerated by the pandemic and the depreciation of the yen in 2022, increasing their cost consciousness. Personal motivations, such as utilitarian reasons and cultural exchange, played a vital role in driving students to study in the Philippines, emphasizing the importance of considering personal motivations and cultural exchange in designing effective language programs.