Dr. Kinji Ito
Fall 2023 Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund Recipient
Project: "Repeated Study: Motivation as a Factor in Second Language Acquisition - Part 3"
Dr. Kinji Ito, an assistant professor of Japanese in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, received a Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) grant to support his study "Motivation as a Factor in Second Language Acquisition - Part 3," a continuation of SAFE-funded work conducted in 2021 and 2022.
Dr. Ito, whose research interests include language pedagogy and translation, is collecting data through focus group discussions to learn how to effectively motivate students to continue learning a second language. The focus groups are composed of students enrolled in Japanese courses at App State. Participants receive gift cards to incentivize their participation in the study.
With the funding, Ito was able to recruit 30 students to the focus group. He explained how the SAFE grant benefited the participants: "The SAFE grant allowed me to create a supportive environment where students could freely express their learning experiences and engage in meaningful exchanges with their peers. This opportunity fostered a sense of community and connection among the students."
With his findings, Ito plans to publish an article that will help students learn a second language more effectively and help educators understand the motivations behind learning a second language. Ultimately, effective use of the findings could help language departments increase their student retention rates.
"The SAFE grant reinforced the significance of conducting action research in the classroom, providing a solid foundation for my scholarly work. It also enabled me to refine and deepen the focus of my ongoing and future research endeavors," shared Ito, who plans to conduct three more focus groups to reach an appropriate sample size for his study.
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About the SAFE Fund
Initially endowed by Hughlene and Bill Frank, the College of Arts and Sciences Student and Faculty Excellence (SAFE) Fund provides resources that can be used to support undergraduate, graduate and faculty experiences. The SAFE Fund provides funding for college priorities and opportunities that arise throughout the year. These unrestricted funds support student and faculty travel, publication support for faculty and student research opportunities. Learn more at: cas.appstate.edu/students/student-and-faculty-excellence-safe-fund.
About the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures
The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures offers courses that enhance students’ understanding of other cultures and languages as well as their own, making them prepared for lifelong learning in a multicultural world. Learn more at dllc.appstate.edu.
By Lauren Gibbs
October 25, 2024
BOONE, N.C.
Dr. Kinji Ito is an assistant professor of Japanese in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Photo submitted
Dr. Kinji Ito is an assistant professor of Japanese in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures. Photo submitted