2016 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Maintaining the Heritage Language: A Challenge for the Peruvian - Japanese Community
| Project/Area Number |
15K04378
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| Research Institution | Waseda University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
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| Keywords | Heritage language / Immigrant education / Spanish language |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Regarding my research in Japan, I conducted field studies in Isesaki and Oizumi town. I interviewed members of the Board of Education and the International Cooperation Divisions. I observed the Latin American activities and I visited the Multicultural Community Center that provides advices in the migrants’ languages regarding the life in Japan. Regarding the research in Peru, I transcribed the observations and interviews I conducted at the Peruvian Japanese Cultural and Language Centers and at the Colegio La Union.
I attended the Little Tokyo Book Festival in Los Angeles and attended the discussion panels at the Aratani Theather in Little Tokyo. Additionally, I visit the permanent exhibition of the Japanese American National Museum and the community activities carried out by the Nikkei community in Los Angeles. I participated in the Tenth International Conference on Language Teacher Education and Workshop about Project-based Learning for Heritage Language Instruction organized by the University of California Los Angeles.
I completed the first part of the contents to be included the website about Spanish as a heritage language in Japan. This website aims to provide a guideline to parents and tutors on the importance, recommendations and resources to maintain the heritage language among their children. I purchased and reviewed new literature concerning heritage language education, the Japanese migration in Latin America and the Nikkei migration. I wrote the research findings gathered during the second year for publication in academic journals.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
My research is progressing according to the objectives and schedule that was initially planned for the second year. In addition to the fieldwork in Nikkei communities, I also focused my study on the professional development attending conferences and workshops in Japan and abroad. It aims to acquire new approaches and knowledge to provide appropriate guidance to parents and tutors as an educator to maintain the Spanish as a heritage language.
In the fiscal year 2016, I included the first stage of the preparation of a website based on the need of materials especially for parents and tutors who due to the lack of time and Spanish language schools are not giving proper attention to the maintenance of the heritage language among their children. The website aims to provide a tool and guidance for parents in their language preservation.
I am currently transcribing the first interviews carried out in Isesaki and Oizumi to the educational authorities and community members.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
In 2017 I will continue my fieldwork in Gunma and Kanagawa prefectures to collect further data about the heritage language education of the Nikkei children in these areas. I also aim to observe the support programs organized by local authorities regarding the support for migrant children to integrate in Japanese society and promoting bilingualism.
During this year I will attend academic conferences in Japan and abroad to disclose and discuss my research findings. At the same time, I will prepare the manuscripts for publication in academic journals.
The website about the heritage language will be finished this year, including the definition, relevance, and advices for parents and tutors, as well as links of Spanish language supports and other tools and resources to maintain the heritage language.
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| Causes of Carryover |
I will use the incurring amount in the next fiscal year to conduct further research in Gunma and Kanagawa prefectures. Several activities are organized by the immigrants and local authorities to support the children education and integration. I would like to include the initiatives of local governments to help the migrants in their adaptation to the new environment; it can also help to avoid problems of communication with local citizens.
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| Expenditure Plan for Carryover Budget |
I am planning to conduct further data collection in Japan and Peru to be included in the website such as an introduction about the history, culture, tourism and current issues that increase the motivation of children to continue speaking and learning Spanish. I will prepare a booklet to be published this fiscal year as an additional tool for parents and tutors to support the heritage language maintenance. Additionally, I will visit Peruvian community meetings to share my research findings to support parents in the Spanish language heritage maintenance.
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