A Study of Environment for Non-native Trainees of Techniques in Acquiring Japanese

1994 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

• Project/Area Number: 04306020
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Co-operative Research (A)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Institution: Tokyo Woman's Christian University
• Principal Investigator: UYENO Tazuko Tokyo Woman's Christian University, College of Culture and Communication, Department of Languages, Professor, 現代文化学部, 教授 (40010087)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAMADA Izumi Osaka University International Student Center, Assistant Professor, 留学生センター, 助教授 (30210438) ; YASHIRO Kyoko Reitaku University, International School of Economics and Bussiness Administrati, 国際経済部, 助教授 (80210235) ; MIKUCHI Masahiro Tokyo Institute of Psychiatry, Department of Social Psychiatry, Reserach Associa, 社会精神医学研究部門, 研究職主事 ; TANAKA Nozomi Osaka University International Student Center, Professor, 留学生センター, 教授 (10124190) ; KAI Mutsuro The National Language Research Institute, Center for Teaching of Japanese as a F, 日本語研究センター, センター長 (10024085)
• Project Period (FY): 1992 – 1994
• Keywords: Teaching Japanese / Technician / Communication-network / Ethnographic research / Environments for learning Japanese / Interview / Volunteer / ボランティア

Research Abstract

The research aimed at investigating enviromental issues of non-native trainees of techniques in adjusting to their settling sites to achive their trainings acquiring Japanese. It was focused on their communication-networks with local Japanese people.
A preliminary researh unsing ethnographic methods chose Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture, as an appropriate research site in availability of foreign subjects and sociogeographical conditions.
The main research revealed the following :
1)A prerequisite for the network for non-Japanese residents including trainees of techniques is a network of Japaese residents who may offer voluntary supports for non-Japanese residents.
2)Among those Japanese networks, networks which provide supppotsin emargencies for non-Japanese residents, and networks which function daily for the better relationship of Japanese and non-Japanese residents within a community are major ones.
3)In Komoro City, a group of Japanese medical doctors and technicians, a group of Japanese lawyers, and Japanese volunteers who can handle languages such as Thai and Tagalog form networks supporting non-Japanese residents in emergencies.
4)Community networks for promoting better relationship among the Japanese and non-Japanese residents are still on the way to be formed. Mothers'networks having their children in the same nursery schools, and networks by some Japanese who has non-Japanese spouses are among them.
5)Action researches taken with local supporting groups of Japanese and non-Japanese groups suggested issues to be examined in coming future in continuation. For teaching of Japanese to non-Japanese residents, a language school was opened as a trial. The school would provide opprtunities for volunteer Japanese to be better teachers of Japanese, and it has been expected to be a stepping stone for Iocal Japanese residents to think about the significance of teaching Japanese to non-Japanese residents.