PERCEPTION OF JAPANESE STUDENTS AT UNIVERSITAS ANDALAS

YOUTUBE JLPT CONTENT AND INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE

Abstract

This study examines the perceptions of Japanese students of Universitas Andalas towards using YouTube content in preparing for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and its impact on developing their intercultural competence. Based on the abundance of Japanese language teaching content on YouTube, both from native speakers and local teachers, this study aims to understand how the use of this digital media contributes to linguistic and cultural aspects. The theoretical framework of Intercultural Competence by Byram (1997), with its five dimensions (savoirs), is used as the basis for the analysis. This study adopted a descriptive quantitative approach, with data collected through a questionnaire obtained from 146 respondents of Japanese student at Universitas Andalas. The results showed that most respondents (72%) perceived cultural explanations in JLPT videos, although 28% considered the content to be minimal, especially for levels N5-N4. Around 58% of respondents reported practicing the cultural knowledge gained from YouTube. Positively, 80% of respondents agreed that YouTube content improved their understanding of cultural differences, and 55% felt that the videos triggered self-cultural reflection. However, only 35% of respondents found content criticizing Japanese cultural stereotypes. Overall, the average user satisfaction reached 3.8/5, indicating that YouTube is helpful but needs cultural depth and interactivity improvement.