<Article> Problems and Issues in learning Japanese language among Thai and Chinese university students: A mixed method micro research (Speical Issue of the Faculty of Economics ; Studies Presented to Prof. Masahiro Ogawa, Prof. Yoshihiko Saito, Prof. Wataru Takahashi on Their Retirement)

type:01 紀要論文 / Departmental Bulletin Paper

The main purpose of this research is to find the problems, issues and what challenges two groups of international students（Thai and Chinese）faced, and how they coped with these dilemmas in learning Japanese language as a second language during the academic semester. A mixed method micro research（e.g : questionnaire surveys, quantitative method, face-to-face oral interviews, recordings and a mixed micro method approach）were employed to triangulate the data. This mixed micro method research analyzes specific learning problems of Japanese language in grammar ; Kanji characters ; pronunciation ; Hiragana characters and Katakana characters. The findings show three major challenges : Personal psychological issues, Sociocultural issues and Japanese language issues. Besides, group work, positive attitude, interaction with international friends and useful learning strategies are identified as coping strategies. The result will provide implications for international students as well as language instructors and program coordinators in a higher education institution to better assist the international students. Therefore, the method to get delicate in-depth findings was used, and the comparison for Japanese 1 class was made between those students who performed very well, were awarded A grades（Good students）, and results which is my second research objective. In conclusion, those methods of research are useful to find the solutions of the learning problems and obstacles for the Japanese language learners. As a consequence, Japanese language learners could find better learning performance and outcome which will be greatly beneficial for not only my students learning Japanese language but also other learners of Japanese language as well as teachers teaching Japanese as a second language.