Developing Critical Thinking Through Content-Based Language Instruction Mariko Henstock Dept. of Modern Languages & Comparative Literature Boston University Instructional Innovation Conference March 2, 2012 Boston University

Creating a Linguistics Course Department asked me to teach a course: – Japanese linguistics – History of the Japanese language Required course for double majors in Linguistics & Japanese

Course of “Mixed Abilities” Linguistics background –5 Linguistics majors –5 had never studied linguistics Japanese skills –8 had completed 4 th year Japanese –4 had studied Japanese 2 years only –3 had studied abroad in Japan

Course Goals Learn linguistics and improve language skills Develop analytical and critical approach toward Japanese language –Break “stereotypes” of Japanese language in class –Gain deeper understanding of modern spoken & written Japanese Experience a course taught in "real Japanese"

Content-Based Instruction (CBI) (Morita 2009) Integrates content & language instruction Allows students to use the language as a vehicle for acquiring the lecture content Used in culture, literature, and history courses, but not linguistics Allegedly fosters critical thinking

3 Prototype CBI Models (Brinton 2007)

1)Theme-based instruction Focus on theme within language class curriculum 2)Adjunct instruction Link separate Japanese language and content courses 3)Sheltered instruction Focus on content but use Japanese Accommodate the students' level

Course Goals Learn linguistics and improve language skills Develop analytical and critical approach toward Japanese language –Break “stereotypes” of Japanese language in class –Gain deeper understanding of modern spoken & written Japanese Experience a course taught in "real Japanese"

Harvard Solutions Harvard Business School sent students to overseas to solve real world business problems (Harvard Gazette, Jan. 2012) Success of "Flipped classroom" teaching model: Class is a place for discussions and peer learning (Harvard School of Engineering & Applied Sciences, Feb. 2012)

Our students can… Engage in experiences through media (YouTube, videos) or interviews with Japanese [exchange] students at BU Examine, observe, and find patterns in such real world content through open assignments Discuss their findings and exchange ideas with classroom discussions & peer learning

Examples of Weekly Assignments Watch a drama, YouTube video, or interview your Japanese friend. Observe and share something you noticed about the language. Identify the use of classical Japanese proverbs in modern Japanese texts Understand and explain why some example dialogues between young Japanese are grammatically incorrect

A Typical Week Students prepare reading (in English) Lecture in Japanese/English Weekly paper with a topic Class discussion Active learning to connect their observation & findings to linguistics –Practice for critical thinking with peer learning –Answer open-ended questions

How did it work out? 1 st year Strong language skills Strong linguistics skills 2 nd year Several had low Japanese language level Lower linguistics and critical thinking ability Had to adjust much more for these students

How did it work out? 1 st year Several said they enjoyed the assignments Improved their critical thinking over the course through the weekly assignments Helped them writing the term paper 2 nd year Several hated the open-ended assignments Wanted precise instruction on exactly what to do These needed “critical thinking” training the most

Outcome of 1 st year Improved the quality of term papers Developed critical & analytical approach toward Japanese language from a linguistics perspective –Gained deeper understanding of Japanese –Improved awareness of linguistics influence on the Japanese language Could recognize instances of classical Japanese in modern texts Seemed to have helped turn them from passive learners into active learners through critical thinking –Achieved goal of Content-Based Instruction

Reflection of one 1 st year student Weekly reflection assignments Examined specific aspect of the language –e.g. Noting the mistakes that native Japanese speakers make when learning English Required critical analysis of Japanese and English Reading classical Japanese texts Examined how Japanese evolved Japanese literature courses at Boston University use only translated material Both inspired my term paper

References 迫田久美子 (2009) 「 ICJLE 2009 シドニー大会を振り返って－参加者と主催者の視点から 考える国際大会の意義と役割」日本語教育１４３号 清田淳子 (2001) 「教科としての『国語』と日本語教育を統合した内容重視のアプローチの 試み」日本語教育１１１号 北原保雄 (2004) 「問題な日本語」大修館書店 金水敏 (2006) 「現代に生きる古典日本語」日本語教育国際研究大会 招待パネル発表 コロンビア大学 金水敏 (2007) "On "Role Language" in Contemporary Japanese: An Investigation on Prototypical Styles in Japanese" Japan Forum Invited speech, Harvard University Akemi Morioka (2009) Teaching Japanese with Content-Based Instruction (CBI): Addressing critical thinking, learner autonomy, and motivation (July 2011) Donna M. Brinton (2007) Content-Based Instruction: Reflecting on its Applicability to the Teaching of Korean 12th Annual Conference A,erican Association of Teachers of Korean, Chicago, Illinois ence2007/pdf/Donna%2520Brinton.pdf+Brinton+CBI&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEES g73pVXy- 9w1AFR75RJksAwRPUIYahoku42TNrRRL5HPAExO7hVUd4f0kwiS7eZVrJmVHZAcOIN55 Sp3eVLCDmSzlUQHqT7hUN6Ki_BrbySyoYNpD5kHuZRtkPUgofbvjDy2Auk&sig=AHIEtbRK Q6Tz_AW63M0qL2TYt3WknhGOtw&pli=1 (July 2011)