Panel Title

Second Language Acquisition Panel: 日本語学習者の談話運用ストラテジーの使用と未使用に関する判断過程の分析 (The analysis of decision-making processes in the use of oral production strategies by L2 learners of Japanese)

Paper Title

ディスカッションにおける上級学習者の聞き手としてのストラテ ジーの使用状況と認識度 (Performance and perception of the listener role during small-group discussions by advanced learners of Japanese)

Author's Name, Institution and E-mail Address

Chiemi Hanzawa, University of Iowa, chiemi-hanzawa@uiowa.edu

Abstract

A number of studies have investigated the use of aizuchi and head nodding by native speakers and learners of Japanese. Previous research shows that learners of Japanese use less aizuchi than native speakers, and that their variety of aizuchi is limited (Horiguchi 1997, Watanabe 1994). In terms of head nodding, it has been reported that native speakers of Japanese use more head nodding than native speakers of English (Maynard 1993), but the use of head nodding by learners of Japanese remains unclear. Previous study uses data mainly from face-to-face conversations between two people, and the focus of the analysis is to investigate the descriptive characteristics of the use of aizuchi and head nodding, such as frequency, variety and position. While learners' general perception of aizuchi has been investigated via questionnaires, learners' perception during actual conversations has not been studied fully. This research investigates the performance and the perception of listener roles by advanced learners of Japanese. Learners' perception is investigated to find out 1) their understandings of native-like aizuchi and head nodding behaviors, 2) their decision-making process as to the use of aizuchi and head nodding, and 3) the difficulties they experience when enacting these behaviors during in-class discussions. The participants are fourth-year Japanese student at the university level. Their in-class small-group discussions were video-taped and transcribed, and their use of aizuchi and head nodding was examined with regard to turn-taking behaviors. Stimulated recall interviews were used to investigate the learners' perception towards the use of aizuchi and head nodding while engaged in discussions during content-based instruction. The results reveal a discrepancy between the learners' performance and the perception of listener roles. The use of stimulated recall pinpointed the difficulties learners face when performing listener roles while talking with peers.
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