Effects of written and oral practice on L2 learners' acquisition of Japanese verb conjugations

Maki Yamaguchi, Purdue University

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of writing and oral practice on the acquisition of Japanese verb conjugation by learners of Japanese. Previous studies indicate that the use of CALL is beneficial for the foreign/second language acquisition of verb conjugation (Teichert, 1985). However, there are no studies investigating the effects of the use of CALL on the acquisition of verb conjugation in Japanese. The participants in this study were students enrolled in second-semester Japanese-language courses. All the participants were asked to practice verb conjugation on traditional written exercises, and also on Speak Everywhere, where the participants view videos of a Japanese native speaker pronouncing each verb form and repeat after them. The participants were asked to conjugate five verbs into the corresponding masu form (polite form), te form (gerund) and nai form (negative form). The results of this study show that the speaking practice has a statistically significant effect, while no significant effect was detected with the conventional writing practice. Pedagogical implications of the present study and directions for future research are also discussed.

Degree

M.A.

Advisors

Fukada, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Linguistics|Foreign language education

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