紀要論文

An Analysis of Goals Driving the Development of English Conversation Skills among Japanese University Students

eng

00229741

https://doi.org/10.15002/00021367

法政大学経済学部学会

86

2

67

85

2018-10-20

Version of Record

The development of English conversation skills is a learning goal within high school classrooms in Japan. Despite this, many students enter university falling short of this target and continuing to struggle to participate in simple English conversations, even after graduation. One cause of this underdevelopment may lie with the lack of communication in English conversation learning goals between the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), educational institutes and students. This paper takes a first step to develop this communication by undertaking open-ended surveys and peer-interviews with 150 first-year Japanese university students about their perceptions of the usefulness of English conversation skills for their future. Findings revealed six main categories and 24 sub-categories of responses within both surveys and peer-interviews, mainly related to the abilities to speak with foreigners, travel, succeed in study, succeed in business, and for entertainment purposes. This data can be used by MEXT, schools, universities and teachers in Japan to adapt education at the governmental, institutional and classroom-level to better match course content to student goals and improve resultant motivation and learning.

Article

AN00071028