Paper short abstract:

This presentation will clarify the purpose and methods of our research into what reading materials are needed and what skills should be taught in reading lessons which cater for more practical needs of Japanese learners in Europe.

Paper long abstract:

The purposes of this research

For the learners to enhance their practical reading ability, it is necessary for them to have reading materials are needed and what skills should be taught. In this panel, using the results of our surveys, we would like to suggest what kinds of reading materials are needed and how we might address reading comprehension lessons.

Method: Needs analysis

We interviewed over 50 learners in Germany, Spain, France and UK about their reading. The learners were asked questions 1-3 in their native language. We also asked:

1. What they want to read.

2. What they have to read.

3. What they do not read.

In the summary we excluded the responses which are more to do with improving their general proficiency as our concern in this research is primarily their practical needs.

Method: the survey of what makes reading difficult

To find out what areas should be addressed in reading lessons, we conducted the survey to see how learners actually read, e.g. which part they misread and how they dealt with the part they have difficulty understanding.

The survey was conducted as in the procedures 4-6 of over 40 learners in Germany, Spain and France at the beginner and intermediate levels.

4. Ask a learner to choose an authentic reading text.

5. Ask a learner to read the text as her usual manner of reading e.g. if she uses a dictionary when reading, then to use dictionary. While reading, talk about the way she read, e.g. what she understood or did not understand, what she did when she did not understand, how she inferred or guessed meaning etc.

6. Ask questions to check comprehension of the text.

We discuss the results and suggestions in the following three presentations.