Religious education for intercultural understanding: Exploring class models for fostering self-awareness and engaging with difference

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K14003
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 09040:Education on school subjects and primary/secondary education-related
• Research Institution: Hiroshima University
• Principal Investigator: Delakorda Kawashima Tinka 広島大学, 人間社会科学研究科(教), 講師 (30825873)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: Intercultural education / Religious awareness / Teacher training / Immigrant education / Cultural sensitivity / Teaching material / Teaching strategies / Cultural diversity

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Most public mainstream schools in Japan need help dealing with culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) pupils due to a shortage of teachers trained in diversity. The research, drawing on religiosity measures in the sociology of religion, focused on developing an effective class model and teaching material for experiential learning, raising religious awareness among pre-service teachers. Based on multiple assessments of the interactive activities in various educational contexts from high school to university, the researcher developed a workbook containing dialogues on religious values, including an instruction manual for educators in diversity and intercultural communication. Study results showed that self-awareness of religious and spiritual values and beliefs could positively affect teachers’ cultural sensitivity.

Free Research Field

Sociology of religion

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日本の公立学校では、様々な宗教的ニーズを持つ児童の数が増加していることが課題となっている。多分野からなる本プロジェクトで開発された教授法と教材によって、教員は、宗教の違いを受け入れる異文化間対話を促すための自己認識とスキルを習得することができる。