Intercultural Language Learning and Student Wellbeing: A Case Study of Japanese Students

Abstract

This study examines the role of intercultural language learning in facilitating cultural adaptation and enhancing mental wellbeing among Japanese students participating in a 25-day intensive Hindi language program in Pune, India. Adopting a mixed-method, questionnaire-based case study approach, the research investigates how language acquisition, cultural immersion, and institutional support systems shape students’ intercultural experiences.The findings reveal that language learning significantly improves students’ communicative competence, fosters intercultural understanding, and enhances confidence and emotional comfort. However, certain challenges, including environmental adjustments and the intensity of instruction, influence students’ overall adaptation. The study contributes to the growing body of research on intercultural education by offering insights into short-term language programs in a non-Western context, emphasizing the interrelationship between language learning, cultural adaptation, and student wellbeing.