Hitoshi Nishizawa
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College and University Optimum Readability Levels for Japanese Elementary-level EFL Learners more
The author analyzed the reading histories of 42 students in an ER program in Japan. They joined the program at 15 years old and read a million words or more of English texts for five to seven years. They were divided into three groups depending on their TOEIC score increase rate: 57, 121, and 187 points per million words on average. Their readability levels (Yomiyasusa-level: YL) and the total words read were analyzed. The lowest score-increase group had read 2.2 million total words and was reading the texts of YL 3.2 on average. In comparison, the highest score-increase group had read ‘fewer’ 1.2 total words and was reading ‘easier-to-read’ text of YL 2.1 when they both scored TOEIC 500. The result suggests that the optimum readability levels for Japanese elementary-level EFL learners are around YL 2.5 or even lower when their TOEIC scores are 500.
All Levels Extensive Reading Materials in Public Libraries in Japan more
In Japan, some public libraries offer English books suitable for extensive reading to support lifelong learning among local residents. Over the past 20 years, the number of such public libraries has been on the rise. However, the actual situation nationwide was unknown except in certain regions, so the first national survey regarding extensive reading was conducted in 2024. In this survey, we asked about the number of representative readers for extensive reading in their English collections, as well as the librarians’ views on extensive reading. In consideration of the increasing need to support the study of Japanese by non-Japanese residents, we also asked about the collection and use of Japanese language materials suitable for extensive reading of Japanese. The questionnaire was sent to 1,023 central libraries, and 571 libraries responded. In this presentation, we report the results of the survey and analysis thereof.
College and University 効果的な英語多読授業の要点 more
英語多読指導の要所を解説します。高専生向け7年継続多読授業では、訳読からの卒業を前半の目標、90分の継続読書を後半の目標と設定し、毎週１回の多読通年授業での平均読書語数は約200万語弱でした。訳読からの卒業には、絵本から始めることが不可欠で、聴き読みが効果的と感じました。また、100万語読破後も英文レベルを低く（YL2.5以下）誘導したところTOEIC得点上昇率が高まりました。日本語を介さずに内容を理解し、英語で考えること（Comprehensible input）を実現するために必要な英文レベルは、想定よりも低いのではないかと考えました。実際に高専生が読んでいた英文レベル（YL）とその時のTOEIC得点との関係データを示し、適切な英文レベルを検討したいと思います。