Japanese Language Learning Using Visual Contents Outside the Classroom:Analyzing Thai University Students’ Language Learning Strategies

Abstract

Visual content is used by many Japanese language learners as a learning resource, but the details of use have not been clarified. This study aimed to investigate language learning strategies in visual content use and discuss language learning outside the classroom. Analyzing questionnaires completed by 159 Thai university students majoring in Japanese, this study focused on the dimensions of strategies and the tendencies of strategy use of learners while watching visual content. The result of factor analysis showed four factors as the dimensions of the strategies: “understanding words and expressions”, “understanding social culture and content”, “reaction to unknown words”, and “focusing on sound”. This study pointed out that some features of these dimensions overlapped with existing strategies, but there were also original dimensions effected by the resource and the learning environment. Using cluster analysis, this paper described two groups distinguished by learning attitude and two groups focusing on the dimension of the strategies. When looking at the use of visual content outside the classroom it has been thought difficult to distinguish between learning purpose and pleasure, but this study described the use of visual content as part of Japanese language learning.