Collaborative learning activities and brain science: Potentials of Japanese EFL teachers

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25580127
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: KINOSHITA Toru 名古屋大学, 国際開発研究科, 教授 (90177890)
• Research Collaborator: KAJIURA Mayumi ; GAO Fei
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 語彙学習 / 非母語話者 / 学習者 / 教師 / 訳語 / 脳画像イメージング

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To explore instructional possibilities for L2 instruction, this research first compared retention rates and cognitive loads for three methods of L2 word learning in Japanese EFL classroom situations (L1 translation, L2 synonyms, and L2 definitions). Data was collected using both recall test scores and brain imaging obtained by fNIRS (functional near infra-red spectroscopy). Results suggested that L1 translation was more efficient than the other methods in terms of both retention scores and brain activation patterns.
This study also attempted to explore the potentials for non-native-speaker teachers in variable collaborative learning situations. Device malfunction forced a delay in data collection until the end of the final year, and urge additional analyses. Moreover, participants’ individual differences seem to exert more influence than anticipated, suggesting the need for more complex interpretations of data indicating differences in blood concentration patterns.

Free Research Field

英語教育学、応用言語学