SHIN Kimie    Department   Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University  Education Development and Learning Support Center    Position   Professor
Language	Japanese
Publication Date	2012/03
Type	Research paper (Academic/Professional Journal)
Peer Review	Peer reviewed
Title	Effect of Active Learning on First Year Education of International Students: Verification of factors which transform participants
Contribution Type	Joint Work
Journal	International Student Edcuation
Volume, Issue, Page	pp.151-159
Author and coauthor	Tamaki SUMIDA, Akiko SHIMIZU, Yoshie ITAI
Details	This study on participants of the FIRST program, a program offered to first year students, focused on their Japanese language improvement and learning from group activities. An analysis was made from the reflection reports of the 2011 Fall FIRST program participants and interview data collected two months following the program. Results demonstrated five factors effecting improvement in Japanese language including the use of Japanese out of necessity, through repetition and coincidental encounters, the successful experience of overcoming difficulties, and independence generated from strong group ties. From these factors, it is thought that psychological barriers that existed towards the Japanese language and Japanese people were dispelled. It was also confirmed that participants attained independence by sharing common goals with group members and through mutual cooperation and reflection.