Using novels and essays to promote intercultural understanding : A new approach to literary works in language education

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  • Yamaji Naoko
    Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University

Bibliographic Information

Other Title
  • 文学作品を利用した上級日本語教育の試み : 異文化理解促進のために
Published
2006-03-10
Resource Type
departmental bulletin paper
DOI
  • 10.15017/4494640
Publisher
Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University

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Description

This paper discusses the merits and feasibility of using literary works in language education in order to promote the learner's understanding of culture-bound speech and linguistic behavior. It has been pointed out that even advanced learners can fail to discern the true meaning of culture-bound speech and behaviors, and that these kinds of misunderstandings tend to be left unattended, and can accumulate and cause hostile feelings in the learner. I have produced a set of teaching materials that utilize essays and novels and have used these to teach a course for advanced students. The task of interpreting literary works provided the learners with opportunities to observe utterances and behaviors objectively and discuss them in a detached manner. The learners became aware of some rather peculiar characteristics of Japanese culture such as the feeling of "tere" (bashfulness)", which would have neither been perceived nor understood otherwise. Thus, the results show that literary works can be a very useful means for enhancing intercultural communicative proficiency. However, the works should be selected not for their values in the literary world but rather for their linguistic/cultural input. Offering appropriate tasks is indispensable in helping the learner to deepen his observation skills.

Journal

  • 比較社会文化研究

    比較社会文化研究 19 89-94, 2006-03-10

    Graduate School of Social and Cultural Studies, Kyushu University

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