Investigating the effective factors to improve Japanese college students' English proficiency: A perspective from students' affective needs

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13269
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 02100:Foreign language education-related
• Research Institution: Japan University of Health Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Inada Takako 日本保健医療大学, 保健医療学部看護学科, 教授 (70438927)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: anxiety / enjoyment / motivation / self-confidence / English proficiency / language choice

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In addition to foreign language class enjoyment (FLCE) and English proficiency, foreign language class anxiety (FLCA), motivation, confidence and language choice were investigated in English classes. The language choice items were then removed and analysed with English proficiency as the dependent variable and FLCE, FLCA, motivation and confidence as independent variables, and the results showed that motivation, confidence and FLCE (weak relationship) were established as predictors of English proficiency. A qualitative study, an essay survey, was also conducted and correlated with the results of the quantitative study, which proved that there was a significant relationship between English proficiency and FLCE, motivation and confidence. It is therefore important for teachers to provide fun, motivating and confidence-building lessons by increasing activities that allow students to experience success.

Free Research Field

Educational psychology

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

当は、コミュニカティブ英語クラスで、どのような要因（外国語教室不安、外国語教室楽しさ、やる気、自信、言語選択：英語のみ対日本語補助あり）が学生の英語力向上と関係があるのかを調査した。低不安と英語力向上に関係性があるのではと考え日本語補助があった方がいいと予測したが、言語選択に関わらず、やる気、自信、楽しさが成績と有意に関係していた。この結果から、英語力向上のためには、学生は授業を楽しみ、やる気を出し、自信をも持つことが重要であることが分かった。