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Knowledge and acquisition of grammatical constructions in English as a Foreign Language

Research Project

Project/Area Number 21K00661
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 InstitutionNippon Medical School

Principal Investigator

KIRK STEVEN  日本医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (10794753)

Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) 西川 純恵  日本医科大学, 医学部, 講師 (60373015)
Project Period (FY) 2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
Project Status Granted (Fiscal Year 2023)
Budget Amount *help
¥2,080,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥480,000)
Fiscal Year 2023: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000)
Fiscal Year 2022: ¥390,000 (Direct Cost: ¥300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥90,000)
Fiscal Year 2021: ¥1,040,000 (Direct Cost: ¥800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥240,000)
Keywordsconstruction grammar / second language / repetition / constructions / fluency
Outline of Research at the Start

The present study aims to investigate the acquisition of grammatical constructions through repetition-based pedagogical methods. In this study, participants will be tested for knowledge of two grammatical constructions (the ditransitive and caused-motion constructions) using a syntactic priming test, before and after repetition-based instruction. The syntactic priming test shows implicit knowledge of these constructions and therefore the teaching methodology can be tested in terms of the implicit knowledge that learners gain or fail to gain.

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

This study examines the acquisition of grammatical constructions in English as a Second Language through pedagogical activities which give participants focused and repeated exposure to the ditransitive and caused motion constructions, in order to ingrain those constructions in the learner. The level of implicit knowledge of the constructions is measured with a pretest and post-test that measures the syntactic priming effect of these constructions. In 2023, we worked on creating the pretest, post-test, and pedagogical treatment using the software Inquisit, and tested these procedures. This software allows the tests to be done verbally, while similar procedures in previous research used paper-based methods.

Current Status of Research Progress
Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

At this stage in the study, we have prepared the pretest and post-test, and the pedagogical treatment activities, and tested their practicality. We are currently recruiting participants for the main phase of data collection.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

In the spring and summer of 2024, we will conduct the main phase of data collection. This will take approximately 6 weeks. The study should be completed by the end of this year.

Report

(3 results)
  • 2023 Research-status Report
  • 2022 Research-status Report
  • 2021 Research-status Report

URL: 

Published: 2021-04-28   Modified: 2024-12-25  

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