Type of Document	Dissertation
Author	Nishimata, Takayuki
URN	etd-04142008-170238
Title	Going Green - Can it help foreign language learning, too?
Degree	Doctor of Philosophy
Department	Middle and Secondary Education, Department of
Advisory Committee	Advisor Name Title Deborah Hasson Committee Co-Chair Diana Rice Committee Co-Chair King Beach Committee Member Yoshihiro Yasuhara Committee Member
Keywords	Anxiety Physical Environment Japanese
Date of Defense	2008-03-07
Availability	unrestricted
Abstract This study explored the effects of having Japanese classes in an outdoor environment on foreign language anxiety. A total of 28 students learning Japanese as a foreign language in the two third-semester Japanese courses offered in the fall semester of 2007 in an American university in the Southeast. The teacher of the two courses participated as well. In order to measure the change in levels of anxiety over the semester, all participants were asked to complete the Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale at the beginning and near the end of the semester. Also, in order for researchers to understand the change in anxiety, they were asked to write three journals and six participants were interviewed. In addition, the researcher observed a total of 12 class sessions to record anxious behaviors. The participants in the first section (the regular classroom group) had all classes in their regular classroom, while those in the second section (the green outdoor group) had a total of five classes in an outdoor location on campus with a tree and grass. Results show that the students who had five classes in the green outdoor environment experienced a decrease in anxiety, while the students who had all classes in the regular classroom experienced an increase in anxiety. The outdoor setting may have additionally enhanced students’ attention, concentration, and participation. The teacher also acknowledged that the green outdoor group appeared to be relaxed and started to utilize the elements in the outdoor location for teaching. Potential benefits of teaching languages in the outdoor location are discussed.
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