Exploring Factors Determining Motivation to Participate in Study Abroad Programs for Teacher Education Students in the U.S.A. and Japan
Thillainatarajan Sivakumaran, Eiji Tomida, Holly Kathleen Hall, Manabu Sumida

Abstract
The objective of this study is to explore the factors which determine students’ motivation to study abroad in two teacher education programs. One teacher education program is of a regional public university in Louisiana, USA, while the second counterpart is of a regional national university in Shikoku, Japan. A survey was administered to students of both institutions. Sixty students from the American institution and 163 from the Japanese institution responded. Results found that the American students were more interested in applying their knowledge and skills that they have acquired in their home institution and the Japanese students were more interested in gaining new experiences and skills and meeting new people including university students and school children. The American students’ outgoing orientation was significantly determined by concern about language ability and having foreign experience. The Japanese students ‘outgoing orientation was determined by interests in speaking foreign language and visiting foreign schools, the foreign education system and disliking to travel.

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