Crossing Language Boundaries on Campus: Using a SALC as a Learning Space For Interactive Homework

This small-scale study investigates the experiences of students engaging with a Self-Access Learning Center (SALC) at a Japanese university. The study focuses on students’ interviews with international exchange students in the SALC and subsequent reflections on these experiences as part of an English course assignment. Thematic analysis of the reflections reveals four main themes: curiosity to broaden one’s mind, overcoming anxiety and low self-efficacy, positive affect from connecting with others in English, and motivation and perseverance to learn English. The findings highlight the complex interplay of emotions, motivation, and language-learning experiences in the reflections. Despite initial challenges and some negative emotions, many students reported positive outcomes, including increased interest in foreign cultures, improved language confidence, and enhanced motivation to continue learning English. The study underscores the importance of SALCs in facilitating meaningful language learning experiences outside the traditional classroom.