This study examines the relationship between English in the environment and English language development in Japan. Although the English language enjoys a significant presence in the country, it has rarely been given consideration in previous research looking at second language development for Japanese learners. The study adopts Uric Bronfenbrenner's Ecological Systems Model to conceptualize the levels of the total learning environment in which the individual is immersed.
The participants for this study were 99 Japanese university students attending Doshisha University in Kyoto. Participants were required to fill out a questionnaire and five students volunteered for interviews regarding the learners' perception of English in the surrounding environment.
The findings from this study revealed little relationship between English in the environment and English language development for Japanese learners. In fact, the results indicate that a sharp divide between English taught in the classroom and English found outside of the classroom remains. Learner attitude was identified as the most significant factor influencing English language development.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:uvic.ca/oai:dspace.library.uvic.ca:1828/2106 |
| Date | 25 January 2010 |
| Creators | Cover, Dwayne Christopher |
| Contributors | Noro, Hiroko |
| Source Sets | University of Victoria |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | Available to the World Wide Web |
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