Learning in a Conversation Class with Japanese Volunteers:

Student-Led Activities.

Abstract

This is a report of an upper intermediate level Japanese language class in which Japanese volunteers assist in peer-learning. The main activity of the classes consists of having discussion in small groups. Several students are appointed each class to determine the subject for the next class. They are responsible for researching the topic before class and preparing a presentation on the topic. The appointed students who took charge of the lesson gain a sense of accomplishment and can reflect on their performance using feedback received from the class. In this paper, I use interviews to show how students were able to achieve the learning goals.