2021 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Heritage Language Learning: The Case of the Spanish-speaking Communities in Japan
| Project/Area Number |
21K00656
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| Research Institution | Keio University |
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Principal Investigator |
新谷 ロクサナ 慶應義塾大学, 総合政策学部(藤沢), 訪問講師 (20706254)
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
高山 パトリシア・ベレン 慶應義塾大学, 総合政策学部(藤沢), 講師 (20707666)
高畠 理恵 慶應義塾大学, 総合政策学部(藤沢), 講師(非常勤) (40896502)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Keywords | Heritage language / bilingualism / migration |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In the fiscal year 2021 we carried out the following research activities: A) We collected data from the Spanish-speaking community members in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Okinawa. Interviews were online and in-person, and questionnaires were distributed in-person and online among parents. B) Based on the preliminary research findings, we presented the co-authored paper “Diversity among Spanish Heritage Language Learners: Challenges and Perspectives in Japan” at the 19th Asia Pacific Conference. C) Regarding the professional development we reviewed the updated literature concerning heritage language and migrants’ education. Additionally, we have been participating in the online workshops about heritage language education organized by the National Heritage Language Research Center, UCLA.
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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 according to the objectives initially planned for the first year. The fieldwork was mainly concentrated in Japan due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, the research trip to Peru and data collection at the Nikkei institutions in Lima were not possible to be conducted.
We are analyzing the interviews carried out in Tokyo, Kanagawa and Okinawa. We are also processing the questionnaires of the first year, in addition to the observations carried out at the Spanish language school in Shonandai. We are working on the materials for the heritage language learners (basic level) who need to learn and practice the Spanish alphabet.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
We will participate in academic conferences to share the preliminary findings of our research. In May we will present a paper at the XXXIV CANELA Conference and in August-September we will participate in the 32 ASELE Conference. In 2022 we will continue with further interviews to Spanish-speaking parents and will focus on their transcriptions for the analysis. In the next years we will continue to update and review the literature regarding heritage language education and we will also focus on the preparation of materials for heritage language learners to improve the language skills.
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| Causes of Carryover |
We will use the incurring amount in the next fiscal year in the following research activities and reasons:
1. Due to the pandemic in the previous years, we could not participate in international meetings about heritage language which were conducted only face-to-face. We are planning to present a paper at the 32 ASELE conference in Verona.
2.Data collection and the transcriptions of the interviews will let us to analyze in detail the responses from the interviewees and will serve as the basis for the preparation of the booklet and papers to be submitted to academic journals. We will continue with the data collection through the interviews, questionnaires and observations.
3. If the conditions regarding the Covid 19 in Peru in the next fiscal year are appropriate, we will conduct the fieldwork in Peru to analyze the language needs of the heritage language learners who were educated in Japan. We are planning to conduct the fieldwork at the Nikkei institutions (the Japanese-Peruvian Association and La Union school) and at the Catholic university in Lima.
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