Development of second language knowledge: a large-scale longitudinal study(Fostering Joint International Research)

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15KK0034
• Research Category: Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Miyagi University of Education
• Principal Investigator: Suzuki Wataru 宮城教育大学, 教育学部, 准教授 (60549640)
• Research Collaborator: Ortega Lourdes ジョージタウン大学, 言語学, 教授
• Project Period (FY): 2015 – 2017
• Keywords: knowledge / self-rating / vocabulary / subjective measure / objective measure / implicit memory / explicit memory / long-term development

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Most studies use various tests that are likely to measure explicit memory that is consciously recalled. The current study contributes to a small body of research that measures implicit memory that is not deliberately recollected. The participants were university freshmen in Japan. They used their mobile phones or personal computers to access a link in which they were asked to rate their understanding of approximately 100 words within 15 minutes every day over a month. The target words were scheduled to appear in two intervals: two-day and four-day intervals. Two major findings emerged. First, the participants steadily developed form-meaning relationships for the words. Second, the development of knowledge of words appearing in the two-day interval was characterized as a U-shape and reached a plateau, while the development of knowledge of those in the four-day continued to increase over time.

Free Research Field

言語学