Evaluation on Improvement of Social Emotional Competencies in Summer Camp Focusing on Personal Characteristics: The Case of UWC ISAK Japan’s Summer School

Abstract

The present study investigated the efficacy of the UWC ISAK Japan summer school on nurturing social-emotional competencies among junior high school students, considering the influence of participants' personal characteristics. A pre-questionnaire on subpopulations and personality traits, and pre-and post-questionnaires on social-emotional competencies were conducted. Valid responses from 47 participants were analyzed. The results indicated that the UWC ISAK Japan summer school had significant effects regarding nurturing social-emotional competencies. In addition, positive correlations were found between changes in socialemotional competencies and students with low levels of agreeableness and openness, and between changes in social-emotional competencies and students who are Japanese nationals and foreign residents in Japan. This indicates that participants' personality traits work as a moderator which influences the effects of the program.