Analyses on Kanji Vocabulary Acquisition in "Fundamentals of Natural Science” Course
KUDO, Kanako

“Fundamentals of Natural Science (hereafter FNS),” offered in the JLC one-year course, is one of the basic courses in the science field. For students in the second half of the beginning level Japanese program, learning the kanji vocabulary found in the specialized words used in the FNS course can prove particularly difficult. For this reason, during the 2007 academic year, materials were created that addressed the FNS kanji vocabulary and these materials were incorporated into the program. This research analyzed to what degree and in what manner the kanji vocabulary from the FNS course was acquired, and led to a critical reexamination of the materials used. As a result, the following became clear.
Based on the pre- and post- test scores, it can be concluded that the vast majority of the FNS students mastered important kanji vocabulary. In addition, by analyzing the final test with regard to the relationship between improvement patterns and the study methods employed, it became clear that groups with greater improvement and higher levels of acquisition utilized the kanji materials more frequently, especially the material designed for self-study. Finally, acquisition levels were analyzed based on the timing of the introduction of the kanji vocabulary. It was apparent that the sooner in the program that the FNS kanji vocabulary was introduced the more easily and successfully the words were acquired.
Based on these findings, a fresh look is being given to the materials in order to revise them and improve the timing of the introduction of the kanji vocabulary. Moreover, by analyzing individual information and learning patterns, ways that the material and the teaching methods can be adjusted to accommodate students who stumble in their attempts to acquire kanji vocabulary are becoming clearer. It is apparent that the instructor needs to keep working to employ the most effective instruction possible.