Abstract:

An experimental educational program was offered in September, 2008 under the auspices of a national university in Japan and several institutes of higher learning in China. The program was planned and organized as part of course work for university seniors enrolled in courses related to English language education and inter-cultural communication. For the program, regular full time students and part time lifelong learning students from Japan traveled to China for class activities, cultural and social events and informal personal contacts. English and Japanese were the primary languages of communication. The program shows promise as a model for inter-generational communication, intercultural communication, education focused tourism and foreign language education.

Keywords:

intercultural communication, education, tourism, foreign language education.