Promoting Learning Motivation and Autonomy through Active Learning Approaches

A Focus on Course Design and the Role of Instructors

Abstract

This paper explores how learners can actively participate in classroom activities to enhance their learning motivation and elicit their speaking skills, based on a three-term Japanese Language Teaching Practicum at the Graduate School of Global Communication and Language at Akita International University. By analyzing and validating the winter practicum, it was determined that designing activities that stimulate learners’ intellectual curiosity is necessary to facilitate their active participation. Additionally, it has been revealed that promoting learners’ awareness of the learning process is crucial for fostering learner autonomy. The paper examines the implementation of active learning, which encourages learners to take charge of their own learning, and discusses the role of the teacher, resulting in the development of improvement proposals. Through the validation of this paper, new challenges were discovered concerning the organization of lessons to promote learner autonomy and the support that teachers can provide.