Studies published in the JALT CALL Journal half a decade ago by Murray and Blyth (2011) and Lockley (2011) concluded that Japanese university freshman lack core computer literacy skills. More importantly, both studies also suggested that normalization of CALL activities is still a long way off. Given the shifts in 21st century Japanese education towards more technology-based instruction and an increase in computer skills classes, coupled with the ascent of a so-called “digital generation” into higher education, has computer literacy really improved among university freshmen? To answer that question, and to investigate a perceived gap in computer literacy skills as reported by students who participated in a one-year study abroad program in Australia, the authors surveyed 112 freshmen tourism majors in a compulsory English program.
