Exploring learning processes in individual writing conferences: Practicing learner training and its effectiveness

• Project/Area Number: 16K16881
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Young Scientists (B)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Juntendo University
• Principal Investigator: Imai Junko 順天堂大学, 国際教養学部, 助教 (00458506)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2019)
• Budget Amount: ¥3,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥900,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000)
• Keywords: ライティング・カンファレンス / 個別英語ライティング指導 / 第二言語ライティング / 作文指導 / 自律学習支援 / 混合調査法 / 応用言語学 / 英語教育 / 学習メカニズム / 自立学習支援 / ライティング / 個別指導 / 研究方法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

This study contributed to the research on second language (L2) writing by identifying the important role of writing conferences (WrCs) in practicing process-oriented L2 writing pedagogy in university-level English education. The researcher first observed how Japanese learners of English interacted with their English writing tutors in a North American university. She then used part of the observation data as a model to raise Japanese university students’ awareness to the benefits of making use of WrC opportunities that were newly established at a participating university. The study concluded by reporting the meaningfulness of L2 WrCs beyond developing the learners’ writing skills including their autonomy and active participation in interacting with their tutors.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究の学術的意義は、プロセス重視の作文教育における、個別指導＝ライティングカンファレンスが担う役割を明確に示したことにある。また、個別学習支援の意義・効果を明らかにするため、量・質的データ、分析を組み合わせた混合調査手法のモデルを提案した。実践としては、自律学習支援の一環として大学英語教育の場で個別作文指導を提供した。支援の提供を通して、書く力の他、学習者の主体性、交渉力、問題解決能力といった学生のコミュニケーション能力を育成した。

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] ハワイ大学(米国)
• [Int'l Joint Research] ハワイ大学マノア校(米国)
• [Int'l Joint Research] ハワイ大学(米国)
• [Int'l Joint Research] ハワイ大学(米国)
• [Journal Article] Current trends in mixed-methods research: Potential for use in applied linguistics. (2019)
  • Author(s): 今井 純子
  • Journal Title: 順天堂グローバル教養論集 Volume: 4 Pages: 49-57
  • NAID: 40021897569
  • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
• [Journal Article] 内容言語統合型授業(CLIL)における英語ライティング指導 (2017)
  • Author(s): 今井 純子
  • Journal Title: 順天堂グローバル教養論集 Volume: 2 Pages: 80-87
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] A mixed-methods research on writing conferences: Roles played by conventional analytical methods. (2019)
  • Author(s): Junko Imai
  • Organizer: Second Language Research Forum
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Interviewing participants after L2 writing conferences: Its pedagogical and research roles. (2019)
  • Author(s): Junko Imai
  • Organizer: The 17th Asia TEFL International Conference
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Self-regulated learning in L2 writing conferences. (2018)
  • Author(s): 今井純子
  • Organizer: 大学英語教育学会 (JACET) 年次大会
• [Presentation] Writing conferences for L2 learning to write: A case study. (2018)
  • Author(s): 今井純子
  • Organizer: The 2018 Symposium on Second Language Writing (SSLW)
• [Presentation] What if the learners focus on grammar: Contrasting cases of L2 writing conferences. (2018)
  • Author(s): 今井純子
  • Organizer: Second Language Research Forum (SLRF)
• [Presentation] A mixed-methods study on L2 writing conferences: Instructional effectiveness and discursive varieties. (2017)
  • Author(s): Junko Imai
  • Organizer: The 18th World Congress of Applied Linguistics
  • Place of Presentation: リオデジャネイロ市(ブラジル）
  • Year and Date: 2017-07-23
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Effects of Writing Conferences on L2 Learners’ Texts and Attitudes: Contributions of Quantitative Findings and Their Limitations. (2017)
  • Author(s): Junko Imai
  • Organizer: American Association of Applied Linguistics
  • Place of Presentation: ポートランド市（米国)
  • Year and Date: 2017-03-18
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] My thoughts are for the peace: Perspectives negotiated in a writing conference at a university EAP program in Hawaii (2017)
  • Author(s): Junko Imai
  • Organizer: International Society for Language Studies
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Writing conferences beyond grammar. (2017)
  • Author(s): Junko Imai
  • Organizer: Symposium on Second Language Writing
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] カンファレンスを通しての第二言語ライティングの効果的支援 (2017)
  • Author(s): 今井 純子
  • Organizer: 全国語学教育学会 (JALT)
• [Presentation] L2 Writing Conferences with Japanese Students (2016)
  • Author(s): Junko Imai
  • Organizer: Japan Association for Language Teaching National Conference
  • Place of Presentation: 愛知県産業労働センター(愛知県・名古屋市）
  • Year and Date: 2016-11-25
  • Int'l Joint Research