A public university has shifted the Japanese language teaching method from using full textbooks to the application of combining textbook and online platforms. This shift is in lieu of the transition in teaching and learning patterns initiated by the rapid development of IT and the effects of pandemic. What motivates the researchers to embark on this study is that with the change of learning face-to-face to online learning, foreign language instructors need to prepare more interesting online materials to ease online teaching and learning. Generally, this study is aimed to introduce yet another online teaching materials for the teaching and learning of Japanese. Specifically, this study is to explore how the students learned Japanese online with the assistance of Minato, employing quantitative methods. A forty-seven-item questionnaire, with questions related to behaviour (13 items), situational (20 items) and cognitive (14 items) factors was administered, and 37 students participated in the survey. Based on the findings, it had been illustrated that out of 47 item questions; eleven (11) items recorded the highest score of 4.6 mean points. Eight (8) of the highest means are items from Situational Factors and three items from Cognitive Factors. The sub-factors for Situational Factors consist of learning about culture and learning about lifestyle. Out of eight (8) items with the highest means; three (3) items from culture and five items from lifestyle. The subfactors for Cognitive Factors are learning vocabulary, learning pronunciation and learning grammar. Out of three (3) items with the highest means consists of two (2) items from learning vocabulary and one item from learning pronunciation. The lowest mean of 3.5 points is from Cognitive Factors and the item is learning grammar. Therefore, this study has proven that teaching and learning using videos and photos are the most effective methods for learning Japanese culture and lifestyle through an online platform, whilst learning grammar still need teachers-students' face-to-face interactions in class.
Role-playing is an effective technique in teaching and learning a third language. This technique can not only help achieve learning objectives but also increase interest among students. At the same time, the role play can be used as one of the evaluation instruments. A case study of 253 students taking Japanese as a third language course was conducted. A set of survey questions consisting of three (3) sections is given to students to (i) assess students' readiness to undergo role-playing tests as an assessment instrument in Japanese language teaching, (ii) evaluate the effectiveness of items tested in role-playing and (iii ) provide an opportunity for students to provide suggestions for improvement on the assessment instruments conducted. The results of the study found that most students agreed that role playing (i) is able to test students' language skills, (ii) improve speaking skills, (iii) increase confidence to write in Japanese, (iv) enable better interaction in Japanese, (v) enhance cooperation among group members during the preparation of the script, and (vi) is suitable as a research instrument. The results also found that in preparing the role play script (i) students are given enough time to prepare the script and practice, (ii) vocabulary given is sufficient to help students prepare the role play script, (iii) lecturers provide guidance in preparing the play script roles, (iv) the syllabus helps to prepare the script according to the theme and (v) the use of the application helps in the preparation of the acting script. Through the survey conducted, students also provided some suggestions for improvement to this assessment instrument.
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