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A study on using Japanese Songs for teaching Japanese language in Taiwan Matsuo, Takao 松 尾 隆 男 Fu Jen Catholic University Graduate Institute of Linguistics Abstract The present paper explores the usage of Japanese songs in teaching Japanese in Taiwan. Recently, interactive communication in language class has become a modern trend. Besides, socio-cultural element of the target language is emphasized as an indispensable goal. Songs fulfill such requirements, because, songs can provide three good resources. In the first one, linguistic aspect (Semiotics) and social cultural aspect (soul) are tied together in songs. In the second one, songs have good feature which is easy to learn, acquire and memorize language. In the third one, songs and verses are one kind of special text type. So, second language learners have to come into linguistic sense for target language. In primary language acquisition, native speakers naturally master songs and lyrics and the corresponding music, while second language learners without proper exposure to songs lack this song related language competence. Approximation of native speakers’ intuition (including song related competence) justifies the inclusion of teaching songs in a second language class. Besides language learners expect more and more multi-media in classroom. Through questionnaires, the present study explores the state of art of using Japanese songs for teaching Japanese in Taiwan, the problems involved and the alternatives to improve the problems. This thesis is divided into five chapters. Chapter 1 points out the significance of songs in teaching language, and gives a historical review of using songs in teaching Japanese. Chapter 2 indicates the actual research method and subjects investigated in Taiwan and Japan. Public as well as private colleges are investigated. The locus of investigation is Taiwan, though subjects in Japan are also investigated and used as reference to Taiwan. Chapter 3 deals with statistic analysis of 3 different subject groups in the present study: Group A is Japanese Language teachers in Taiwan, Group B is Japanese Language learners in Taiwan, and Group C. is Japanese Language teachers in Japan. Chapter 4 presents the results of statistic analysis according to different subject groups and the following five main issues: (ⅰ) Necessity of teaching songs in Japanese language. (ⅱ) Consequence of using or not using songs in Japanese class. (ⅲ) How to use songs in teaching Japanese. (ⅳ) Differences in using or not using songs in Japanese class. (ⅴ) Ways of introducing songs into Japanese class. Chapter 5 offers concrete examples of songs classified in various areas of interest and use concrete examples to illustrate that ways of using songs to achieve goals of language teaching. Finally, analysis showed that many teachers investigated in this study admit the necessity of using songs in language teaching, but they do not practice it much in fact. And Japanese language learners in Taiwan expect using more songs in Japanese class than the teachers are actually practicing. Key word: Teaching Japanese Language, Japanese Songs, interactive learning, Multimedia, Classification of songs, songs for teaching Japanese.
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