Event

Emotions in Language Learning: What teachers should know

Saturday, February 27th, 2016, 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Speaker: Keita Kikuchi (Kanazawa University)

The presenter first discusses the importance of studying emotion in second language learning. He presents what he learned in his experience researching motivation and a new study he conducted recently. In this study, a questionnaire based on Dornyei (2010) was developed to study the motivational dynamics of Japanese college students to study English as a foreign language (EFL). It consists of the Ideal L2 self, the Ought-to L2 self, and L2 learning experience. The instrument in this research also measures these constructs. This research project entails three phases. In the first phase, the questionnaire data, collected in April 2015 from more than 600 university freshmen who attend several colleges in Japan, was analyzed using both exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. In the second phase, five learners who participated were interviewed six times over two semesters from April 2015 to January 2016. Questionnaire data was also collected from these learners, to identify their initial motivational characteristics in April, and to observe the motivational dynamics with quantitative data over two semesters. Finally, using the Geneva Emotion wheel (Scherer, Shuman, Fontaine, & Soriano, 2013), they were asked to reflect on the emotions triggered by events that affected their motivational changes that they mentioned in the six interviews at the end of the research project.

Based on the results of this study, the presenter will discuss what teachers should know about the emotions in language learning. Since participants are invited to discuss and share what they have observed on this topic throughout the presentation, active participants are welcomed.

Keita Kikuchi holds a Master of Arts degree in ESL from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and a Doctorate in Education from Temple University. He is currently an associate professor at Kanagawa University in Yokohama, Japan. His most recent publication is "Demotivation in Second Language Acquisition: Insights from Japan" (Multilingual Matters: 2015).

After-meeting Social:
BRITISH PUB MORRIS HIPPO
1F Hakata River Rain Mall, Shimokawabata 3-1, Hakata-ku (above the Nakasu-Kawabata Subway Station), 092-282-3912, map
This time, we have only reserved the seats (up to 15). You are responsible for your own drinks and food (pay-as-you-go). To secure your spot, please R.S.V.P by 17:00 on Feb 26, Friday.

Organization: Fukuoka Chapter of the Japan Association for Language Teaching (Fukuoka JALT)

Cost: JALT Members: free
Non-members: 1,000 yen

Venue: ACROS 2F (Seminar Room 1) 1-1-1 Tenjin, Chuo-ku, Fukuoka City (map)

Location: Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

Contact Fukuoka JALT

Trevor Holster