Developing International Posture Through Intensive IELTS Preparation in EFL Settings

The relationship between intensive IELTS preparation and International Posture (IP) amongJapanese university students is reported in this study. IP, defined as learners’ openness to andwillingness to engage with the international community, is a recognized factor influencing motivationand global readiness. Thirty-three students who participated in three-day IELTS workshops werecompared with peers in Medical English (N = 29) and Cross-Cultural Communication (N = 16) classesusing a 28-item IP questionnaire. Results showed that the IELTS group reported significantly higher IPscores than the other two groups, with no difference observed between Medical English and Cross-Cultural Communication participants. A small number of repeat IELTS participants also demonstratedsignificant gains, suggesting that IP is malleable and responsive to targeted instruction. These findingshighlight the potential of short, exam-focused interventions to foster IP. Integrating IELTS-style speakingtasks and global issue discussions into regular classes may therefore promote both test readiness andintercultural engagement.