2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
An Exploratory Study of Enactment and Movement Based Pedagogy in a Foreign Language Context
| Project/Area Number |
19K13256
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| Research Institution | Hirosaki University |
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Principal Investigator |
Birdsell Brian 弘前大学, 教育推進機構, 准教授 (40646296)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
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| Keywords | Phrasal verbs / Foreign language / Embodied learning / Movement / Exercise |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
Published results from the first experiment that looked at the effect of three different teaching interventions on the learning of a set of phrasal verbs. Learning through watching students enact the meaning of the phrasal verbs showed the strongest effect on enhancing the learning of the phrasal verbs by the participants. This paper was published in the proceeding of the Japan Association for Language Teaching Postconference Publication in August 2021. The paper was also selected by the editorial board as one of three papers of exceptional quality (See https://jalt-publications.org/proceedings/issues/2021-08_2020.1).
As a follow up to this first experiment and based on recent studies in the field, I designed a new experiment with phrasal verbs. In this experiment, I explored the effects of a short bout of exercise on the learning of phrasal verbs. I designed the material, produced the learning videos, and recruited student participants. In total, 16 participants came to the lab four different times; (1) I explained the research, obtained consent from the participants; and the participants took a pre-phrasal verb test; (2) students came to the lab in pairs - 1 student sat for 20 min. and read a book and the other student walked on a treadmill for 20 min.; afterwards they watched the video about phrasal verbs and then took a post-test (3) reversed activities for the students; (4) a delayed post-test. I plan to continue this experiment into this new academic year.
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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
The research is progressing rather smoothly. The recruitment for student participants in the winter went smoothly with over 30 people signing up. Unfortunately, classes went back online after the New Year and many students did not return to campus. Therefore, only 16 student participants completed the experiment. I also needed to purchase additional material (plastic partitions) for COVID safety protocols. In the end, though, the experiment proceeded smoothly and I will collect a second round of participants this spring.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
As noted above in the "Summary of Research Achievements", I plan to recruit a second group of students for the experiment that looks at the effects a short bout of exercise has on foreign language learning (particularly for phrasal verbs). This will be completed in the first semester. Over the summer break, I will analyze the data and plan to present the results at JALT Conference in November 2022. I also plan to write a paper over the summer/autumn based on the findings from this experiment and submit it for publication.
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| Causes of Carryover |
I had to reduce the number of research participants due to COVID-19. I will use the unused amount to continue my current experiment with student participants in this fiscal year.
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