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Japanese Language Students' Attitudes Toward Kanji and Their Perceptions on Kanji Learning Strategies
Author(s) -
Mori Yoshiko,
Shimizu Hideko
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
foreign language annals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.258
H-Index - 49
eISSN - 1944-9720
pISSN - 0015-718X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1944-9720.2007.tb02871.x
Subject(s) - kanji , psychology , rote learning , memorization , perception , contrast (vision) , metacognition , linguistics , cognitive psychology , mathematics education , teaching method , artificial intelligence , computer science , chinese characters , cooperative learning , cognition , philosophy , neuroscience
This study aims at identifying interpretable factors underlying Japanese language learners' attitudes toward kanji and their self‐reported kanji learning strategies. It also examines the relationship between the two sets of belief factors. A questionnaire survey was conducted among Japanese language students at nine universities in the United States; 311 responses were subjected to exploratory factor analyses that identified six attitudinal factors and six strategy belief factors. Descriptive statistics indicated that students considered rote memorization most effective and metacognitive strategies least effective. Correlational analyses revealed that appreciation of the cultural value of kanji and positive emotions toward kanji were associated with stronger belief in varied strategies. Perception of difficulty and belief in special abilities required for kanji learning, in contrast, were associated with reliance on rote memorization.