The Oral History of Successful EFL Learners: Qualitative Research on Lifelong Foreign Language Learning

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25580131
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Foreign language education
• Research Institution: Okayama University
• Principal Investigator: Teranishi Masako (Nasu Masako) (那須雅子) 岡山大学, 言語教育センター, 准教授 (50311098)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 英語教育 / 外国語学習成功者 / オーラルヒストリー / EFL / インタビュー分析 / 質的研究

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the current study, I have interviewed 40 successful foreign language learners and recorded their actual learning histories and experiences, by applying the theory and the method of ‘oral history’ to the research of foreign language education. Based on the qualitative analysis of narratives collected from advanced learners of English and other languages as a foreign language, this study has obtained several pedagogical implications for Japanese English learners who wish to acquire advanced level language skills most efficiently.
I presented the result of my study not only to the researchers of English education but also to Japanese language learners including university and high school students. One of the important achievements is my contribution to a book entitled Literature and Language Learning in the EFL Classroom (2015) published by Palgrave Macmillan. I also gave presentations at domestic and international conferences, including Poetics and Linguistics Associations.

Free Research Field

English Education, Stylistics