Interdisciplinary Curriculum for Teaching English as a Foreign Language : Cultural Bridge to Improve International Communication

Abstract

Interdisciplinary curriculum is an approach using more than one discipline to examine a central theme, issue, problem, topic, and so on. The curriculum introduces students to how different subject areas influence their lives and help them see the strength of each discipline perspective in a connected way. The purpose of planning this curriculum is to develop Japanese students’ skill in international communications in English as a foreign language. The curriculum includes English-speaking people’s history, culture and so forth, especially Americans as well as the English language. Students have opportunities to analyze the differences between American culture and the American way of thinking and those of the Japanese in the curriculum.