Activating the Zone of Proximal Development of Japanese Language Learners: Language-Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) at an Australian University
This study examines how social interactions in language-exchange partnership sessions can create opportunities for Japanese language learners to use and learn Japanese. The participants in this study were two pairs, consisting of a Japanese native speaker and an Australian studying Japanese at an Au...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Japan Foundation, Sydney
2014-01-01
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| Series: | New Voices |
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| Online Access: | http://newvoices.org.au/volume-6/activating-the-zone-of-proximal-development-of-japanese-language-learners-language-exchange-partnerships-leps-at-an-australian-university/ |
| _version_ | 1818061686417915904 |
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| author | Hiromi Nishioka |
| author_facet | Hiromi Nishioka |
| author_sort | Hiromi Nishioka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study examines how social interactions in language-exchange partnership sessions can create opportunities for Japanese language learners to use and learn Japanese. The participants in this study were two pairs, consisting of a Japanese native speaker and an Australian studying Japanese at an Australian university. This study, employing Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development and assistance to novices by experts, examined what factors enable participants in language-exchange partnerships to provide or receive language assistance within Japanese language learners’ zones of proximal development. As a result of the analysis, this study identified two important factors that had this effect: using shared learning experience in language-exchange partnerships, and actively negotiating the level of assistance. Language-exchange partnerships are a new type of learning experience for many participants. It can be anticipated that some participants may struggle to interact and learn from the interaction in the sessions. Therefore, this paper will provide pedagogical suggestions to improve interactions and learning outcomes from language-exchange partnerships. Moreover, suggestions for future research directions are presented in the conclusion of this paper. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T13:52:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9bb610ed3cbc479983e970db2b206bf5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1833-5233 1833-5233 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T13:52:15Z |
| publishDate | 2014-01-01 |
| publisher | The Japan Foundation, Sydney |
| record_format | Article |
| series | New Voices |
| spelling | doaj.art-9bb610ed3cbc479983e970db2b206bf52022-12-22T01:46:08ZengThe Japan Foundation, SydneyNew Voices1833-52331833-52332014-01-016145171Activating the Zone of Proximal Development of Japanese Language Learners: Language-Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) at an Australian UniversityHiromi Nishioka0Monash UniversityThis study examines how social interactions in language-exchange partnership sessions can create opportunities for Japanese language learners to use and learn Japanese. The participants in this study were two pairs, consisting of a Japanese native speaker and an Australian studying Japanese at an Australian university. This study, employing Vygotsky’s Zone of Proximal Development and assistance to novices by experts, examined what factors enable participants in language-exchange partnerships to provide or receive language assistance within Japanese language learners’ zones of proximal development. As a result of the analysis, this study identified two important factors that had this effect: using shared learning experience in language-exchange partnerships, and actively negotiating the level of assistance. Language-exchange partnerships are a new type of learning experience for many participants. It can be anticipated that some participants may struggle to interact and learn from the interaction in the sessions. Therefore, this paper will provide pedagogical suggestions to improve interactions and learning outcomes from language-exchange partnerships. Moreover, suggestions for future research directions are presented in the conclusion of this paper.http://newvoices.org.au/volume-6/activating-the-zone-of-proximal-development-of-japanese-language-learners-language-exchange-partnerships-leps-at-an-australian-university/language assistanceLanguage Exchange Partnerships (LEPs)out-of-class learningsociocultural theoryZone of Proximal Development (ZPD) |
| spellingShingle | Hiromi Nishioka Activating the Zone of Proximal Development of Japanese Language Learners: Language-Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) at an Australian University New Voices language assistance Language Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) out-of-class learning sociocultural theory Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) |
| title | Activating the Zone of Proximal Development of Japanese Language Learners: Language-Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) at an Australian University |
| title_full | Activating the Zone of Proximal Development of Japanese Language Learners: Language-Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) at an Australian University |
| title_fullStr | Activating the Zone of Proximal Development of Japanese Language Learners: Language-Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) at an Australian University |
| title_full_unstemmed | Activating the Zone of Proximal Development of Japanese Language Learners: Language-Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) at an Australian University |
| title_short | Activating the Zone of Proximal Development of Japanese Language Learners: Language-Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) at an Australian University |
| title_sort | activating the zone of proximal development of japanese language learners language exchange partnerships leps at an australian university |
| topic | language assistance Language Exchange Partnerships (LEPs) out-of-class learning sociocultural theory Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD) |
| url | http://newvoices.org.au/volume-6/activating-the-zone-of-proximal-development-of-japanese-language-learners-language-exchange-partnerships-leps-at-an-australian-university/ |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hirominishioka activatingthezoneofproximaldevelopmentofjapaneselanguagelearnerslanguageexchangepartnershipslepsatanaustralianuniversity |