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How extensive reading improves EFL learners' fluency and proficiency

Research Project

Project/Area Number 19K00901
Research Category

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)

Allocation TypeMulti-year Fund
Section一般
Review Section Basic Section 02100:Foreign language education-related
Research InstitutionNational Institute of Technology, Toyota College

Principal Investigator

Nishizawa Hitoshi  豊田工業高等専門学校, 電気・電子システム工学科, 教授 (40249800)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 吉岡 貴芳  豊田工業高等専門学校, 電気・電子システム工学科, 教授 (30270268)
市川 裕理  豊田工業高等専門学校, 一般学科, 准教授 (50782596)
Project Period (FY) 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
Project Status Completed (Fiscal Year 2022)
Budget Amount *help
¥4,290,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥990,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000)
Fiscal Year 2020: ¥1,170,000 (Direct Cost: ¥900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥270,000)
Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,560,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥360,000)
Keywords多読 / 英語運用能力 / 流暢性
Outline of Research at the Start

多読が初級者の英語運用能力を高めるのは英語情報処理の流暢性が高まるからとの仮説を検証すべく、5~7年継続の長期多読プログラムに在籍する高専生の読書履歴と英語運用能力との関係を分析する。ただし初級者では総合的な英語運用能力を測るTOEIC得点が上昇し始めるまで流暢性が高まるのに時間遅れがあるため、流暢性を測定する中間評価指標として、低レベルの情報処理能力を測るディクテーション試験と、高レベルの情報処理能力を測るリーディング試験を用い、読書履歴とTOEIC得点との橋渡しとする。また多読で伸び悩む学生のボトルネックと推定される低レベルの情報処理能力を早期に向上させる追加措置を試み、効果を確認する。

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, we analyzed the relationship between learning behaviors and the English language proficiency of technical college students who take long-term, multi-reading classes for 5-7 years to explore how extensive reading improves the fluency of English input and English language proficiency of beginner-level students. In particular, we found that dictation tests can measure low-level fluency and that early improvement is effective. However, low-level fluency-building methods tend to be too training-intensive for beginner-level students to sustain. It is better to continue reading classes for an extended period (5 years or more) and wait for fluency to increase. Reading with the pace of the narration can be a practical approach, assuming that the English texts are easy enough.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

日常生活では使わない外国語の学習では、流暢性を高めることが難しい。本研究では、(5年以上の)長期継続多読授業で流暢性を無理なく高められることを再確認できた。英文和訳を避け、やさしい英文から読み始める多読プログラムが、適切な指導法の下でも成果が見えない場合、継続期間が(3年以下と)短いことが理由と考えられる。改善策として、継続期間延長、プログラム間連携、他の活動との組合せ、生涯教育としての取り組み等を考えたい。

Report

(5 results)
  • 2022 Annual Research Report   Final Research Report ( PDF )
  • 2021 Research-status Report
  • 2020 Research-status Report
  • 2019 Research-status Report
  • Research Products

    (8 results)

All 2023 2022 2019

All Journal Article (2 results) (of which Peer Reviewed: 2 results,  Open Access: 1 results) Presentation (5 results) (of which Int'l Joint Research: 5 results) Book (1 results)

  • [Journal Article] Combination of extensive reading programs and other learning activities for Japanese EFL learners2022

    • Author(s)
      Hitoshi Nishizawa, Masaaki Kamiya, Yuri Ichikawa, Regina Madelo Salmasan, Wataru Ohno
    • Journal Title

      Language, Individual & Society

      Volume: 16 Pages: 1-9

    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Peer Reviewed / Open Access
  • [Journal Article] How Much Exposure to the Language Is Necessary to Improve KOSEN Students′ English Skills?2022

    • Author(s)
      西澤 一、神谷 昌明、市川 裕理、サルマサン レジーナ マデロ、大野 亙
    • Journal Title

      Journal of JSEE

      Volume: 70 Issue: 2 Pages: 2_49-2_54

    • DOI

      10.4307/jsee.70.2_49

    • ISSN
      1341-2167, 1881-0764
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report
    • Peer Reviewed
  • [Presentation] Lifelong learning of a foreign language supported by communities based on libraries2023

    • Author(s)
      Hitoshi Nishizawa
    • Organizer
      42nd Thailand TESOL International Conference 2023
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Effective practice of extensive reading for elementary EFL learners2022

    • Author(s)
      Hitoshi Nishizawa
    • Organizer
      Baal Conference 2022
    • Related Report
      2022 Annual Research Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Three Keys to Successful ER Program for Elementary EFL Learners2019

    • Author(s)
      Hitoshi NISHIZAWA, Takayoshi YOSHIOKA
    • Organizer
      The Fifth World Congress on Extensive Reading
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Dictation Test for Measuring Fluency Development of Elementary EFL Learners2019

    • Author(s)
      Soichiro HIRATA, Hitoshi NISHIZAWA
    • Organizer
      The Fifth World Congress on Extensive Reading
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Presentation] Learners' Communities for Helping Lifelong ER among Adult EFL Learners2019

    • Author(s)
      Masaaki HANAI, Reiko ASAKURA, Hitoshi NISHIZAWA
    • Organizer
      The Fifth World Congress on Extensive Reading
    • Related Report
      2019 Research-status Report
    • Int'l Joint Research
  • [Book] 英語の多聴多読最前線2022

    • Author(s)
      コスモピア編集部
    • Total Pages
      218
    • Publisher
      コスモピア
    • ISBN
      9784864541749
    • Related Report
      2021 Research-status Report

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Published: 2019-04-18   Modified: 2024-01-30  

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