Abstract Book of the 9th International Conference on Research in Education, Teaching and Learning
Year: 2025
DOI:
[PDF]
If It’s Too Easy It Is Not French! Aspirations and Disillusions of Studying French at a University in Japan
Mico Poonoosamy
ABSTRACT:
From the rebellious spirit of freedom, liberty and equality to high-end fashion and culinary heritage, French culture, language and traditions have captivated the imagination of the Japanese people since the end of World War II. In 1949, French became a first foreign language in universities in Japan. Things have evolved since then with English as lingua Franca, and with the pragmatic popularity of the languages of China and Korea which are important neighbouring economic partners of Japan. But French nonetheless remains a popular language at university in Japan. This paper uses data of a case study inquiry to explore university students` motivation for studying French. Through a qualitative approach within an interpretivist paradigm, it provides insights into the students` experiences through the following questions: Why do the students study French? What are the challenges and disillusions they experience? How do they overcome these challenges and disillusions? Using motivation theory frameworks, the article discusses approaches to foreign language learning. Data were collected through semi-structured questionnaires, focus groups and interviews. The analysis was conducted using theoretical sampling, categorisation and coding. The findings revealed that the students’ fascination for and stereotypes about French subsided when they had to use the language to communicate. Rote learning which is how Japanese students usually prefer to acquire knowledge allowed them to make only limited progress in the language. The paper concludes by proposing pedagogies for foreign language learning that privilege authentic communication and help students rethink the way they engage with learning and knowledge.
keywords: Foreign language study, fancy French, communicative approach