2023 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
A tool to improve EFL students' English speaking abilities through progress tracking
| Project/Area Number |
21K13052
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| Research Institution | University of Fukui |
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Principal Investigator |
ロンバルディ イヴァン 福井大学, 学術研究院教育・人文社会系部門(総合グローバル), 講師 (10772981)
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| Project Period (FY) |
2021-04-01 – 2025-03-31
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| Keywords | EFL speaking / progress tracking / course design / learning awareness / learner agency |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The research design benefitted from an additional year of data collection in FY2023. The researcher deemed it necessary to extend the data collection window to feature at least one semester's worth of data from in-person activities and interviews. This was not possible in FY2021 and FY2022 because of COVID restrictions, thus necessitating the language learning progress and/or the data collection activities to be online. Analysis of the qualitative data from interviews is in progress. It is taking longer than in previous years since meeting the participants in person leads to more elaborate interviews. In general, the research results show a consistent correlation between the implementation of visualization and progress-tracking techniques and participant awareness of their language learning. The correlation was particularly strong in FY 2023, and the reason for this warrants further investigation.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
The research design was updated in the previous years to adapt to the pandemic-induced emergency remote teaching (ERT) situation at the research location. In FY 2023, it was necessary to revert to the original research design, albeit with minor modifications that proved effective during ERT (e.g., a smaller number of progress reviews and an increased number of moments for reflection). Since this fiscal year was the first opportunity to collect data from fully in-person learning activity and research meetings, it was deemed necessary to perform one more data collection cycle. This has, in turn, delayed the creation of guidelines for implementation that will constitute the final product of this research project. However, it is believed that the additional data collection and analysis cycle will be instrumental in writing said guidelines.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
Qualitative data analysis for FY 2023 is in progress, and the results will need to be compared with data from previous years. This will be a priority for the researcher since it contributes directly to research dissemination, which is an ongoing effort.
Since the research is now shaping to include additional cycles of data collection than previously foreseen, it is necessary to amend the original plan to allow for more time to analyze the data, compare the results, and derive a succinct set of guidelines for the implementation of progress tracking into language learning and language teaching. In addition, the research needs to respond to the affordances and the concerns of the widespread adoption of large language model-based AI-chatbots. The availability and affordability of such tools are profoundly changing the landscape of language teaching and language learning. To remain relevant in 2024, the present research needs to acknowledge these tools and inquire about how the research participants use them (or not) for their language learning goals.
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| Causes of Carryover |
The researcher strives to be careful with money and avoid unnecessary expenses. It is thought that FY 2023 will see an increase in domestic or international traveling due to research dissemination efforts compared to the previous years. Reference materials (especially books) and technology will also need small upgrades; in an effort to digitize books and make referencing easier, the researcher is planning on acquiring a book scanner and a dedicated reference manager software. Some ongoing subscription software licenses will need to be renewed. The researcher will also look into increased access to AI-powered tools, through one-time purchases, subscriptions, and a dedicated workstation should the need arise.
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