Raising Awareness of Language Minorities in Japan

Author(s):  
Toshiko Sugino

Understanding how power functions in relation to teaching and learning languages can provide a clearer picture of language learning. As majorities can control minorities culturally and politically, minorities often suffer language discrimination. Although Japan now has the highest number of foreign residents, it still has a relatively high degree of homogeneity, and most college students have little understanding of them. More surprisingly, they often know even less about Japan's often-overlooked minorities, such as the Ainu and Okinawans. The author demonstrates how to deploy EFL classes to raise students' awareness by using self-made teaching materials and tailored writing assignments within the framework of Exploratory Practice (EP). Drawing on these methodologies, current research on language minorities is used to support a pedagogy that builds cultural awareness by giving majority-language students an opportunity to learn about minorities even when the students' English abilities are limited, as in the case of general EFL courses.

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 52 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agsa Jabeen ◽  
Bahram Kazemian ◽  
Muhammad Shahbaz Mustafai

<p>The aim of this paper is to investigate errors made by second and foreign language (L2) learners so as to understand the strategies and techniques used in the process of second and foreign language learning. Error analysis is a very important area of applied linguistics as well as of second and foreign language learning. It is also a systematic method to analyze learners' errors. Errors are not always bad, rather they are crucial parts and aspects in the process of learning a language. They may provide insights into the complicated processes of language development as well as a systematic way for identifying, describing and explaining students' errors. Errors may also help to better understand the process of second and foreign language acquisition. This study tries to investigate why <em>Pakistani ESL</em> and <em>Iranian EFL</em> learners fail to produce grammatically correct sentences in English, in spite of having English as a compulsory subject at all levels in their learning institutions and schools. What are the reasons for their poor English written performance? In the present study, the writing assignments of university students as well as intermediate English learners were analyzed for the purpose of error analysis. Results of the analysis suggest that students lack grammatical accuracy in their writing and are not sure of the grammatical rules that may apply in their writing in English. The study concludes that they are highly influenced by the rules of their first language (L1).</p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Le Dinh Tung

The awareness of cultural beliefs and customs seems not to have attracted adequate attention during the phase of teaching and learning in ESP courses. The requirements of effective and appropriate interaction and communication with other cultures (Wiseman, Hammer, & Nishida, 1989) bring this matter to ESP teachers and learners. That studying merely from the course book and completing the given tasks discourages students from exploring the world, which expects a more efficient way to include language acquisition and cultural awareness. This paper explores the correlation of cultural awareness and blended learning in which educator in charge of a tourism class can raise students’ cultural communicative competence together with their understanding of global culture. Some of the key issues of this pedagogical methodology also can be discussed regarding language learning, cultural awareness and self-studying in an ESP course.   Keywords-Cultural awareness, blended learning, ESP, cultural communicative competence, language acquisition, Vietnam


2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 1567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Waheeb S. Albiladi ◽  
Fahad H. Abdeen ◽  
Felicia Lincoln

The use of media in English teaching and learning has received much attention from educators and second/foreign language educators. The use of media includes the use of movies, music, films, and other types of entertainment-related learning resources. However, little has been done to understand the adult language learners’ perceptions toward the benefits and challenges of using English movies to learn English. This qualitative research study explored English learners’ perceptions regarding the use of movies as English teaching and learning tools. The study focused on what language learners believe are the benefits and challenges of relying on English movies to develop their language competency. The study’s results indicated that language learners believed that movies are authentic sources of language learning and can be used effectively to improve language skills including speaking, listening, reading, vocabulary, and writing. Findings also revealed that according to language learners, movies are beneficial in terms of increasing students’ cultural awareness.


2019 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-476
Author(s):  
Darmiyati Zuchdi ◽  
Nurhadi Nurhadi

The practice of culture-based teaching and learning Indonesian as a foreign language (T&LIFL) has not been well managed and standardized. Therefore, this study attempted to investigate T&LIFL at six universities in Yogyakarta. The investigation consisted of some cultural aspects in terms of program management, learning material, learning media, teaching approaches, methods, and strategies, learning assessment, and program evaluation. The research design was a mix method design. To collect data, it used questionnaires, interviews, and observations. The data then were analysis quantitatively and qualitatively. The research results were (1) T&LIFL program management had not been culture-based, (2) T&LIFL learning material had not been entirely culture-based, (3) there were not enough learning media reflected on culture, (4) approaches, methods, and strategies had not used learning models including language learning, language awareness, cultural awareness, and cultural experience, (5) the assessment of culture-based learning had not been carried out with process assessment, but some have already packed it in cultural festivals at the end of the program, and (6) there was no evaluation on T&LIFL programs that explicitly evaluated program achievements on aspects of  culture awareness, and experience.


2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 145
Author(s):  
Nita Sari Narulita Dewi

This study investigates cultural values Integration in English language learning for primary school level. A case study is chosen to explore the phenomenon of what aspects reflecting cultural integration in English language learning classroom and its impact on the learners’ language learning. Data are gathered through observation and interview. The acquired data are analyzed using Thematic Analysis by Braun and Clarke (2006). The study reveals that in L1 and L2 culture based materials are designed to be transferred in the process, mostly listening skill, vocabulary and grammar are presented by the learners, strategy of teaching and learning are performed by the teacher and learners, and cultural awareness and nationalism reflection show their identity as Indonesian young learners.Keywords: Culture, English Language Learning, and Indonesian Young Learners


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 289-298
Author(s):  
Yuslina Yuslina

he purpose of this study was to increase the activities and results of Indonesian language learning in the exposition text material of class X IS 3 SMAN 4 Banda Aceh. The learning model used in this study is the CTL learning model. The subjects of this study were students of class X IS 3 SMAN 4 Banda Aceh. The number of students is 35 students with 16 male students and 19 female students. This research was conducted in the 2019/2020 school year for a period of 3 months, from August 2019 to October 2019 in the odd semester. The research methodology is Classroom Action Research (PTK) consisting of two cy-cles and each cycle consisting of two meetings. Each cycle consists of planning, implementing, observ-ing and reflecting. The data collection technique is to collect test scores that are carried out at the end of each lesson in each cycle using a question instrument (written test). Observation data was carried out by looking at the activeness of students in the learning process. Data were analyzed by means of percentage statistics. The results showed that there was an increase in student learning activities in both cycles, from good enough to good categories and to very good categories. Completeness of student learning outcomes has increased from 48.57% in the pre cycle increased to 68.57% in cycle I and increased to 88.57% in cycle II. The use of the CTL learning model can increase the activities and results of Indone-sian language learning in the exposition text material of class X IS 3 SMAN 4 Banda Aceh Academic Year 2019/2020


2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-42
Author(s):  
Muslimin B ◽  
Sumardi Sumardi

 Interests and number of STMIK Balikpapan new student enrollments are increasing every year. The balance of the ratio of lecturers to students is one of the most important components in improving the quality and teaching and learning process of a university. Avoiding shortages in the number of lecturers can be realized by providing scholarship programs to alumni and teaching assistants. This study aims to build a multi criteria decision making application that can assist the Head of HRD in the process of receiving scholarships to advanced and effective study lecturers. The multi criteria decision making application developed in this study uses the SAW method. The implementation of the SAW method includes the process of evaluating the weighting of criteria, evaluating alternative weights, the matrix process, the results of decision making preferences, resulting in the weighting and ranking of each alternative candidate for the scholarship recipient. The results of the evaluation of multi-criteria application decision making in the study are expected to produce modeling with a high degree of accuracy. The results of the analysis carried out can provide alternative recommendations for prospective scholarship recipients to advanced study lecturers in STMIK Balikpapan.


Author(s):  
Choong Pow Yean ◽  
Sarinah Bt Sharif ◽  
Normah Bt Ahmad

The Nihongo Partner Program or “Japanese Language Partner” is a program that sends native speakers to support the teaching and learning of Japanese overseas. The program is fully sponsored by The Japan Foundation. The aim of this program is to create an environment that motivates the students to learn Japanese. This study is based on a survey of the Nihongo Partner Program conducted on students and language lecturers at UiTM, Shah Alam. This study aims to investigate if there is a necessity for native speakers to be involved in the teaching and learning of Japanese among foreign language learners. Analysis of the results showed that both students and lecturers are in dire need of the Nihongo Partner Program to navigate the learning of the Japanese language through a variety of language learning activities. The involvement of native speaker increases students’ confidence and motivation to converse in Japanese. The program also provides opportunities for students to increase their Japanese language proficiency and lexical density. In addition, with the opportunity to interact with the native speakers, students and lecturers will have a better understanding of Japanese culture as they are able to observe and ask the native speakers. Involvement of native speakers is essential in teaching and learning of Japanese in UiTM.


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 214
Author(s):  
Anita Jokić

Teaching English as a foreign language is now one of the most important subjects in Croatian secondary schools since English is one of the three obligatory subjects at 'matura' - standardized tests which the seniors need to pass to graduate. Writing is one of the three parts of the EL exam, the other two being listening and reading. When learning a language, students start from listening skill, move on to speaking and reading and finally to most difficult skill to master: writing. Teaching and learning writing faces a lot of challenges since it requires a lot of time to practice and even more to evaluate and monitor progress. Teacher's responsibilities are to regularly provide opportunities to write, encourage students to learn from their mistakes and promote their success. In order to do so, students should be given clear instructions on evaluation/assessment and concise feedback. Since grading written assignments takes up a lot of time, the author proposes rubrics which can be used to assess various types of writing taught at secondary level (description of place/event/person, letters of complaint, job application, invitation, discursive/opinion/for-and-against essay etc.). Author suggests four fixed rubrics and subdivisions: Task completion, Cohesion / coherence, Grammar and Vocabulary. All rubrics and subdivisions are described in the paper. A survey was also conducted on a sample of 140 students and has given an insight into students’ opinion on importance of assessment and feedback and its influence on their progress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 150
Author(s):  
Farzana Sharmin Pamela Islam

As 21st century is the era of modern technologies with different aspects, it offers us to make the best use of them. After tape recorder and overhead projector (OHP), multimedia has become an important part of language classroom facilities for its unique and effective application in delivering and learning lesson. Although in many parts of Bangladesh, a South Asian developing country, where English enjoys the status of a foreign language, the use of multimedia in teaching and learning is viewed as a matter of luxury. However, nowadays the usefulness and the necessity of it are well recognized by the academics as well as the government. The study aims to focus on the difference between a traditional classroom void of multimedia and multimedia equipped classrooms at university level by explaining how multimedia support the students with enhanced opportunity to interact with diverse texts that give them more in-depth comprehension of the subject. It also focuses on audio-visual advantage of multimedia on the students’ English language learning. The study has followed a qualitative method to get an in-depth understanding of the impact of using multimedia in an English language classroom at tertiary level. For this purpose, the data have been collected from two different sources. Firstly, from students’ written response to  an open ended question as to their comparative experience of learning  lessons with and without multimedia facilities; and secondly, through  observation of English language classes at a private university of Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The discussion of the study is limited to  the use of multimedia in English language classroom using cartoons, images and music with a view to enhance students’ skills in academic writing, critical analysis of image and critical appreciation of music. For this purpose, cartoons in English language, images from Google and music from You Tube have got focused discussion in this paper.


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