Multicultural Japan: Effective Methodologies for Teaching Language and Culture to Japanese University Students

2019 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K02945
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Otemae University
• Principal Investigator: Ando Koichi 大手前大学, 総合文化学部, 教授 (20310691)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): Jackson John 大手前大学, 現代社会学部, 講師 (40737657) ; C・M Browne 明治学院大学, 文学部, 教授 (50286225) ; アリポンガ ジョナサン 関西国際大学, 教育学部, 教授 (50388873) ; 田中 キャサリン 大手前大学, 総合文化学部, 准教授 (50740049) ; Carlson Gordon 大手前大学, メディア・芸術学部, 准教授 (60736057) ; ロバート シェリダン 近畿大学, 農学部, 講師 (70648245) ; タン ダニエル (タンダニエル) 大手前大学, 現代社会学部, 講師 (60781052) ; アンドウ シャーリー 大手前大学, 現代社会学部, 准教授 (90441162)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: EFL / CLIL / English Language / Education / Culture

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We conducted a survey into university textbooks and culturally familiar materials in English language education. The conclusions are: (a) In university settings, culturally familiar material significantly improves foreign language acquisition and retention. (b) These materials can be easily developed and adapted for all the proficiency levels. These findings are significant for all language teachers.

Free Research Field

English

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

We presented research at numerous conferences and published many articles that detail our methodology, materials development, and results. We hosted a symposium to share ideas and research on this topic (Multicultural Japan Research and Methodologies for Teaching Language and Culture, Dec 2019).