One challenge facing teachers of English when trying to improve students’ English language knowledge and skills is that the students themselves often have a deep-rooted lack of confidence in their English receptive and/or productive abilities. This study examines whether a 15-week English II course comprised of three five-lesson Project Based Language Learning cooking projects in English resulted in improved confidence in English among the participants, and the reasons why or why not. A seven-item questionnaire was administered to freshmen Human Nutrition majors (N=41) at a private Japanese university. Results show that 20 students reported perceived improved confidence in English resulting from participation in the three cooking projects. Reasons included the learning of new vocabulary (n=8), learning English for Culinary Purposes (n=6), improved capacity to communicate in “short, simple English” (n=3) and improved language skills and knowledge (n=9). Conversely, 21 students reported no change in their perceived confidence to use English, citing a continued belief that they cannot use English or are not good at it (n=5), that they cannot speak in English (n=4), or generally lack confidence for an unspecified reason(s) (n=4). Given the presumed very low levels of confidence with which most of the students started the course, these results are seen as encouraging, though suggestions are made to support those who still lack confidence.
雑誌名
CHUGOKUGAKUEN Journal
巻
21
ページ
1 - 8
発行年
2022
出版者
中国学園大学/中国短期大学
出版者（英）
Chugokugakuen University / Chugoku Junior College
ISSN
1348-1452
書誌レコードID
AA11806612
権利
中国学園大学/中国短期大学
情報源
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The Effects of Three Cooking Projects on Human Nutrition Majors’ Confidence in English
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