Evaluating Technology-Enhanced English Education in the Japanese University Context
コーディネーター・パネリスト:鹿児島大学 Robert J. Fouser
This presentation will focus on recent research on the effectiveness of technology-enhanced language education from the perspective of English education in Japanese universities. English education in Japan differs from language education in other countries, particularly other advanced countries, in a number of ways, but four features stand out: l) large classes are the norm; 2) most classes meet only once a week for 90 minutes; 3) dependency on part-time instructors from other institutions is high; 4) expected achievement levels for languages previously studied in high school are not clear. Together, these factors form the "Japanese university context" that has a direct effect on how technology is and can be used in English education. I will begin the presentation with a discussion of research on the effectiveness of technology-enhanced language education in nonJapanese contexts, with particular reference to the underlying assumptions, cultural background, and systemic conditions that affect the results of the research. I will then offer an overview of the current CALL/e-learning paradigm in English teaching that has emerged from the Japanese university context. Finally, I will conclude with a discussion of how recent research on the effectiveness of technology-enhanced language education can best be applied to researching the effectiveness of the CALL/e-learning paradigm in the Japanese university context.