ボランティアと日本語教師のカルチャー・ステレオタイプ : 認識と自己抑制に関する研究

There is little doubt that language teachers of foreign students play a significant role in decreasing students' cultural stereotypes. However, few Japanese academics have conducted research on the stereotypes held by Japanese language teachers. Although hundreds of research papers were examined regarding cultural stereotypes, none of the psychologists judging the papers examined just how the language teachers perceive and how they remain aware of and assert self-control over their stereotypes (awareness and self-control). This study examines how volunteers and teachers of Japanese as a foreign language perceive and are aware of cultural stereotypes and how much they can control the arousal of their own cultural stereotypes. Questionnaires were distributed to the volunteers and teachers who were teaching Japanese to foreign students in Japan. Seventy-nine subjects' responses were analyzed. It was clearly apparent that very few teachers perceive the necessity of decreasing their cultural stereotypes. In addition, it was found that most of the subjects in this study could hardly control the arousal of their own cultural stereotypes. A 7-phase hypothesis regarding perception and self-control of cultural stereotypes was developed for this study. It was concluded that the special intervention/educational programs designed to promote awareness and to reduce cultural stereotypes are necessary for students who are training to become teachers of Japanese as a foreign language.