Topics for Scholars of 2019 – 2021

Mr. Yamazaki = Dr. Listening

Interested in

• teaching listening skills for students with different levels.
  • Using music and movies at JHS during fukumen
• from elementary school to junior high school
  • Compare listening activities in elementary school and JHS textbooks.
  • Compare how elementary school teachers and JHS teachers do listening activities.

Ms. Ube = Rubric Cube

Interested in rubrics for writing

• Compare writing rubrics in eiken, TOEIC, TOEFL, IELTS
• How to develop a reliable rubric
• Rationale: New University Center test will have writing but it is said that it is difficult to score.

Mr. Ishida

• He is interested in feedback
  • It should motivate students to study more.
  • It does not work at school now.
  • How can we give good feedback to students? What kind of feedback is good for students/teachers?
  • Teachers should show the next step.
• How to research
  • Various types of feedback
    • Observe classes, record teacher’s feedback, interview teachers about the feedback later (stimulated recall)
    • Conduct a questionnaire to teachers about the kind of feedback they give.
    • Give a questionnaire to students about their feedback preferences.
  • Difference between ES and JHS
    • Observer a Foreign language class in ES and JHS and compare the feedback given to children.
    • Conduct a questionnaire to ES and JHS teachers.

Ms. Motomiya = CuLILIN

An effective way to learn and teach CLIL in elementary school

How to research

• Analyzing the CLIL components in textbooks
  • What are the cognitive levels?
• Observing or doing a CLIL class; doing a CLIL class.
• Giving a survey to teachers about their understanding of CLIL.
• Analyze student conversation in a CLIL class.

Mr. Perfect

Wants to research motivation in students

Because

He is a tutor. He heard students says, “I don’t like English.” Many students say this. The reasons are: they can’t understand English, it is boring, they can’t get a high score, they are not interested. Some students get angry.

How?

He wants to give students questionnaires. And ask things like:

• Why don’t you like English.
• I like English. (Strongly Agree 5 ・・・1 Strongly Disagree)
  • Please write a reason for the above.

One more idea: Interview research

• Ask people about their language learning histories. Interview those students who like English and those who do not like English.

Timeline

• Find resources in the library (April)
• Explain about the contents of paper (April)
• Title (May)
• Paper outline (June)
• July – September: Exams
• October: Complete data collection
• November: Write up to methodology
• December: 中間発表