Home » Journal Articles » > Full Papers » A Preliminary Exploration of the Cognitive Linguistics Approach to English Article System Instruction in the Japanese EFL Classroom

A Preliminary Exploration of the Cognitive Linguistics Approach to English Article System Instruction in the Japanese EFL Classroom


FUJIWARA; Yumi A Preliminary Exploration of the Cognitive Linguistics Approach to English Article System Instruction in the Japanese EFL Classroom JAS4QoL 2024, 10(1) 1 online at: https://as4qol.org/ULalk

Categories: > Full Papers, > Volume 10, Journal Articles, Volumes
Tags: , , , , ,


FUJIWARA; Yumi

Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, 5 Nakauchi-Cho, Misasagi, Yamashina-Ku, Kyoto 607- 8414, Japan

It is frequently mentioned that using articles is a notably high barrier for Japanese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners to overcome because the English article system (EAS) does not exist in Japanese. Therefore, Japanese EFL students often resort to rote-memorization in learning EAS. Relying on rote-memorization, as often seen in traditional learning/teaching methods, makes it more challenging to fully grasp purposes of the EAS. Multiple prior studies have attempted to elucidate the mechanism behind the acquisition of English articles, yet many aspects remain unclear. Cognitive Linguistics (CL), which grew out of work done in the 1970s, is a multidisciplinary approach to language study that came into being in the 1980s and views grammar not merely as a set of formal rules but as something closely related to meanings in written contents. A variety of research and experimental efforts have been made to apply this theory in practical teaching environments. Many of these report that applied CL has a high potential to serve as a foundation for new teaching strategies. Therefore, in learning English articles entangled with complicated rules, it is expected that the CL-based instruction makes it easier for learners to understand the meaning behind grammatical structures, contributing to better comprehension of grammatical concepts. This survey attempted to assess the current state of Japanese EFL learners’ understanding on English article usage and evaluate their feedback on this newly introduced teaching approach. The research involved 46 university students enrolled in grammar courses at a university in Japan, and the participants were categorized into two levels of proficiency based on CEFR level. First, their understanding of articles was examined with a gap-filling test and then the CL-based teaching method was incorporated as part of a class activity. A questionnaire was also administered at different stages of the experiment to investigate first whether the differences in proficiency were connected to the comprehension of articles, then which aspects of articles were hard to understood, whether there were differences in trends based on proficiency, and what they thought of this teaching method. The results showed the group with higher proficiency understood articles better, and the participants seemed to have more difficulty selecting the right article based on the noun phrase type, which varies with the degree of proficiency. Additionally, post-experiment questionnaire results showed that many of them found this teaching method more beneficial and effective than the traditional one.

View | Download

Volumes (in journal order)

Categories

Categorized Tag Cloud

AIURA; Satoshi proficiency level writing activity Brazilian Herbal Medicine EFL 1. physical symptoms Pharmacy Shinno-san Edwin Drood Nutrient Functions Claims OTANI; Arika Chin-Don Therapy HIOKI; Chizuko Kyoto Communication Skills NISHIOKA; Yuichiro Beta-Endorphins metabolic indexes Global Warming KOBAYASHI; Aya MIKAMI: Hiroshi HIBINO; Kenichi complementary product glycemic index SATO; Erina Inner World medication counseling YOSHIKAWA; Masayuki Tryptanthrin food labels Triage Nurses Literary Criticism Pronunciation continuous publication ISHIKAWA; Hiroyasu Collaborative Writing complexity SUGAWARA; Kaoru single-product multiple choice fluency KAMADA; Masao relevance and assessment senstitivity of tests Conferences Task Types OUCHI: Yuri English Teaching TAKAO; Ikuko Stress Japanese Cultural Uniqueness the trial EFL Epidemiologic Study FUJITA; Hiroyuki HASAGAWA; Keito NOJIMA; Keisuke Immunodefense System elective subject obesity Ganodrema lucidum MATSUDA; Hisashi Mini Review Cognitively Impaired Elderly metalanguage Leukotriene D4 (LTD4) Antagonists KITADE; Tatsuya TEZUKA; Osamu oral presentation CHIZU; Imai grammar teaching Masayuki YOSHIKAWA and Kampo Proceedings Pharmaceutical Science English Minoru; OZEKI OGASAWARA; Hiroyuki type-2 diabetes reishi Wisdom Note OSCE English program Water Kaoru SUGAWARA Cognitive Linguistics MATSUNO; Hikari KOHNO; Kyoko niwa NAKASHIMA; Souichi Science English Full Paper Immunoglobulin-A Monitoring Dative Alternation MATSUMOTO; Kenya picture description task Japanese Cedar Pollinosis English the manual booklets NOGUCHI; Ayako Cissus sicyoides KUWABARA; Masato ESP elementary school students Vocabulary Souichi NAKASHIMA MATHEWS; Cy NAKAI; Hisao conference KOBAYASHI; Yasuna Bleak House Inpatient Violence grammar instruction Japanese pharmacy students Outer World Japanese EFL learners shying away from science KIMURA; Tooru Alzheimer’s Disease Furukawa; Shoei Scientific English circadian rhythm Hisashi MATSUDA; Hisashi Preparatory education prior to study abroad English for Special Purposes Atopic Dermatiitis Kyoto Gardens Flavonoids Salivary Cortisol Erina SATO affirrmative feedback Cultural Properties Fiction TAKESHIM;A Shigeo self-confidence REE Facial Illustration-Based Self-Rating Airborne Pollen Levels IKEGAMI; Sako gastrointestinal disorders Arachidonic Acid Cascade smoking cessation NAKAMURA; Tsuyako JENKINS; Judge Pamela FOONG; Anthony FW promoting and impairing factors NISHIKAWA; Tetsu ITABE; Hiroyuki Environmental Carbon Dioxide Concentration HATA; Hiroki Student-Lecturer microphone use Water Systems Drug Discovery CRESPO; David coronavirus ITO; Ken practical science experiments Fengming XU Nerve Growth Factor Depression Treatment teien task type Cortisol XU; Fengming WAJIMA; Rikako Rat Basophilic Leukemia Cells (RBL-2H3) Gardens SF8-Assessment Scores NAKAMURA; Seikou KONISHI; Nami communicative competence emergency departments Homogeneity of High Cultures and Subcultures Cooperative Learning Killer Cells HIEJIMA; Yoshimitsu NAKAMURA;Seikou FUJIWARA; Yumi Kanji; HATTA Dickens Internet-Use Tendency Elderly accuracy WAKATSUKI; Toru IMAI; Chizu Writing Performance Cytokines HIRAYAMA; Etsuko English for Study Abroad HATTA; Kanji Emotion and Behavior written Seiji; SHIMOSATO questionnaire survey Nutritinal function relevance and assessment sensitivity of tests IMAE; Hidefumi HONJO; Michio Quality of Life teaching/learning of science English SATO; Noriko Teaching NISHITANI; Hironori English Salon