Developing Strategies for Using Picture Books in Early English Education in Japan

• Project/Area Number: 25K04369
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 02100:Foreign language education-related
• Research Institution: Naruto University of Education
• Principal Investigator: 鎌田 スザーン・リン 鳴門教育大学, 大学院学校教育研究科, 准教授 (20790075)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 喜多 容子 京都ノートルダム女子大学, 国際言語文化学部, 准教授 (70805853)
• Project Period (FY): 2025-04-01 – 2029-03-31
• Project Status: Granted (Fiscal Year 2025)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥1,080,000); Fiscal Year 2028: ¥910,000 (Direct Cost: ¥700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥210,000); Fiscal Year 2027: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2026: ¥1,430,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥330,000); Fiscal Year 2025: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000)
• Keywords: English / Education / Early Education / SDGs / Picture Books

Outline of Research at the Start

The research will investigate in-service Japanese elementary school teachers’ attitudes and needs regarding the use of picture books in foreign language teaching through surveys and interviews. Based on our findings, we will apply the Reading for in-depth framework (Ridl) to materials to determine suitable picture books and strategies for class use in Japan. WThe final goal is to provide a comprehensive view of the use of authentic materials, in particular picture books, in English language teaching, with the aim of improving language curricula, and establish a database of such books.