A Case Study on Intercultural Literacy of Newcomer Children in Kobe

This paper sheds light on the process of intercultural literacy acquisition of newcomer children (NCC) in a youth program organized for them by an NPO which is working to create a multicultural society. Based on the observations done with an NPO in Kobe,the learning process in the initial stage of intercultural literacy development was closely examined. Intercultural literacy includes the ability of NCC to recognize and express their own opinions and perspectives as ethnic minorities in their host society. By having dialogue with other participants in the youth program, the newcomer children gain approval of their own ethnicity, knowledge about the situation of foreign people in Japan, etc. Uponparticipating in the program, the newcomer children advanced from beingparticipants and settlers, to expressionistsas they subsequently acquired intercultural literacy.