Characteristics of undergraduate dental students in Japan: English competency and willingness to study abroad.
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to acquire a deeper understanding of Japanese students' motivation to study abroad and to provide baseline information for nurturing globally-minding dental students.


METHODS
Students from the first to the sixth year (n = 332), at the Faculty of Dentistry, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, were invited to participate in the study and were asked to complete a self-administered questionnaire, written in Japanese. Self-reported English competency was assessed in four areas: reading; writing; speaking; and listening. Students were asked to score their competencies in these areas using a 10-point visual analogue scale (VAS). Of the total eligible students, 312 (94%) participated.


RESULTS
The results of the study suggest that competency and confidence in the English language could be one of the biggest obstacles for students to study abroad. Students with an interest in studying abroad were highly motivated and studied English independently.


CONCLUSIONS
Japanese educational authorities and dental schools may need to consider a range of incentives and motivational strategies to nurture clinicians, educators and researchers who can function confidently in an increasingly borderless world. These could include increasing exposure to English language skills through mandatory lectures and seminars in English, increasing the range of inbound international students through student exchange programmes and encouraging students to develop and communicate with international colleagues. The Faculty of Dentistry at Tokyo Medical and Dental University has begun to increase exposure of students to English through the regular curriculum. Outcomes will be followed and evaluated.
International Exchange Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. takehara.ohp@tmd.ac.jp.|Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan. takehara.ohp@tmd.ac.jp.
Sachiko
S
Takehara
Centre for Education and Research on Ageing, Concord Clinical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Fac
F
Wright
Department of Oral Health Promotion, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yoko
Y
Kawaguchi
International Exchange Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.|Orthodontic Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Yuji
Y
Ishida
International Exchange Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.|Department of Dental Education Development, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Ikuko
I
Morio
Department of Operative Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
Junji
J
Tagami
D004497:Education, Dental; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007393:International Educational Exchange; D007564:Japan; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D019303:Multilingualism; D013335:Students, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
English language competency; Japan; Undergraduate dental students; future career