Combining Formal and Informal Learning: The Use of an Application to Enhance Information Gathering and Sharing Competence in a Foreign Language

Autor/inn/en	Sato, Yukiko; Rachmawan, Irene Erlyn Wina; Brückner, Stefan; Waragai, Ikumi; Kiyoki, Yasushi
Titel	Combining Formal and Informal Learning: The Use of an Application to Enhance Information Gathering and Sharing Competence in a Foreign Language
Quelle	(2017), (7 Seiten) PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Second Language Learning; Second Language Instruction; Informal Education; Grammar; Interviews; Learning Motivation; Feedback (Response); Foreign Countries; Japanese; Worksheets; Newspapers; Comparative Analysis; Student Attitudes; Writing Skills; Reading Comprehension; Teaching Methods; Student Surveys; College Students; Germany + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Zweitsprachenerwerb; Fremdsprachenunterricht; Informelle Bildung; Nichtformale Bildung; Grammatik; Interviewing; Interviewtechnik; Motivation for studies; Lernmotivation; Ausland; Japaner; Japanisch; Newspaper; Zeitung; Schülerverhalten; Writing skill; Schreibfertigkeit; Leseverstehen; Teaching method; Lehrmethode; Unterrichtsmethode; Schülerbefragung; Collegestudent; Deutschland
Abstract	This study aims to enhance foreign language learners' language competence by integrating formal and informal learning environments and considers how they can improve their grammatical and lexical skills through the gathering (comprehension) and sharing (writing) of information in the foreign language. Experiments with German learners at a Japanese university preparing to study in Germany were conducted. An application to archive newspaper articles was created, indexing current German coverage. A worksheet was provided, where learners were asked to select, read, and summarize articles via the application. Feedback was given to their summary. Participants were divided into two groups, learners that studied only in an informal setting, and those that were also instructed in a formal setting. Interviews were conducted with the participants in order to evaluate how the activities affected their language skills. Results showed that the practice affected their reading methods and heightened their motivation for further language learning in general. Students participating in activities in and outside the classroom showed improvements in their lexical knowledge, and better understanding of subtle nuances in written texts, which positively affected their writing skills and their speaking ability. [For the complete volume, see ED578177.] (As Provided).
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Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01