Research Projects
- Vocabulary Courseware
- Listening Courseware
What’s V Method?
“I should have memorized this vocabulary for the entrance examination. What does this vocabulary mean again?” “I’ve spent so much time writing these vocabulary on my vocabulary book, but I forgot them as soon as I’ve tried memorizing them.” “When I heard the vocabulary, I thought it’s a new vocabulary that I haven’t learned before, but when I checked the spelling, it’s actually a word that I know.” Do these problems sound familiar to you? When this question is asked in an actual classroom, there are more students who have had these kind of experiences than what we’ve originally expected. Learning new vocabulary might sound simple, but it’s actually a complicated process and as the results 4 different major problems are listed as below.
- The learning process tends to become monotonous and boring.
- The vocabulary that the learners think they have memorized are forgotten easily.
- Using the memorized vocabulary in actual communication is a difficult task for learners.
- There are too many words to memorize.
We have tried to think of several ways to overcome the problems mentioned above.
- Turning the input process into something fun or enjoyable.
- Trying to make the memorized words harder to forget.
- Trying to learn vocabulary that are actually used in communication.
- Trying to learn more effectively.
By keeping the above points in mind, we have come to developing this new method.
The teaching material based on this method was first developed in 1995 and has gone through several upgrades. The materials that are currently available to use come in a set of Audio CD and printed materials as well as materials that can be used when learning by using a computer. These different types of materials come as a result of learners’ learning preferences and the high demands for both.
Structure of the Steps
The basic structure for the steps are as below. 10 different words that are grouped into different functions and the situations where the words are commonly used are lined up in tasks that go from easier ones to more difficult ones in the step below.
1
- STEP1
- This material provides pictures as information about the topic to be learned. Try to keep in mind the learning purpose and objective as you proceed with the material.
- STEP2
- Listen to the audio pronunciation of the 10 words you are going to learn. Prepare your heart and mind for the next step of learning.
2
- STEP3
- Let’s take a look at the spelling, Japanese meaning and audio pronunciation of the 10 words you are going to learn.
- STEP4
- Write down the spelling of the word in your notebook while thinking about its meaning. By writing down the word with your own hand, the brain will connect the action and enhance the memorization process.
- STEP5
- Let’s practice recalling the Japanese meaning of the word once you heard it pronounced.。
- STEP6
- Let’s practice recalling the English word by looking at the Japanese meaning.
3
- STEP7
- By learning the chunk (a group of words with meaning) where the word you are learning is actually used will increase your word application skill. Let’s practice listening to the chunk and understanding the meaning right away.。
- STEP8
- The part where the word to be learned in the chunk in the previous step is left as a blank. Try and fill in the blank with the correct word. When you can’t fill it with the correct word, use the audio pronunciation of the chunk as a hint and keep on trying.
4
- STEP9
- Let's try and make sure if you can recall the Japanese meaning as soon as you hear the word pronounced. Go back to Step 1 and redo the steps even if you can’t recall just one word from the list.
※here are also materials with steps such as reading and listening to English passages where the grouped words are used, and answering questions to check the level of understanding after finishing step 9 available for use.。
5
- STEP10
- After taking a test to check whether you have memorized all the words from the previous week, you will be able to review and focus on the words that you haven’t memorized completely.
Aiming at actually being able to use the vocabulary you have learned.
Just like what we have explained in the Structure of the Steps, by using different steps to learn, learners would be exposed to the different aspects of a word. Not just “I understand the meaning of this word when I look at the spelling”, we place the learning objective on a higher level such as “understanding the meaning of the word when a native speaker actually uses it in his speech”, or “using the phrase or chunk in a specific situation and being able to use it with correct pronunciation and intonation comprehensible to native speaker.”
Aiming at actually memorizing the word.
For those who rarely have the chance to use English, no matter what method they use to learn, they would be sure to forget what they have learned little by little as time passes by. This is completely understandable, that’s why we emphasize on increasing the learning time and not stopping the learning process, but separating the learning schedules to allow learners to review on what they have learned or forget. This is one of the main characteristic of this learning method. During the reviewing process, learners would do a quick test to know which part they need to emphasize or to learn again which makes the learning process more effective.
About 3 Step System
For Learners
How to study
Click the video below for an overview of 3 Step material.
For Instructors
3 Step System materials
Learning Materials Navigator
- What is the Learning Materials Navigator?
- Purposes of the Learning Materials Navigator
- The Learning Materials Navigator trial results
CALL teaching material for university students and adults
- College Lectures, National Institute of Multimedia Education, 1999
- People Talk, National Institute of Multimedia Education, 1999
- TV-News, National Institute of Multimedia Education, 2000
- Movie Time 1, National Institute of Multimedia Education, 2000
- Movie Time 2, National Institute of Multimedia Education, 2000
- College Life, MEXT Research Grant-in Aid, 2001
- First Listening, MEXT Research Grant-in Aid, 2001
- Medical English 1, National Institute of Multimedia Education, 2001
- Introduction to College Life, MEXT Research Grant-in Aid, 2002
- College Life II, MEXT Research Grant-in Aid, 2003
- English for Science 1, National Institute of Multimedia Education, 2003
- English for Science 2, National Institute of Multimedia Education, 2003
- New York Live, Chiba University, 2004
- International Students, Chiba University, 2005
- American Daily Life, Chiba University, 2005
- People at Work, Chiba University, 2006
- Enjoy Listening, Funabashi City Board of Education, 2007
- Gateway to Australia, Chiba University, 2008
- You've Got M@il, Chiba University, 2009
- A Bit of Britain, Chiba University, 2009
- First Step Abroad, Chiba University, 2009
- Canadian Ways, Chiba University, 2010
- AFP News from the World, Chiba University, 2012
- World Health Issues, Chiba University, 2013
- English for Nursing Science, Chiba University, 2014
Portfolio
- Takefuta, Junko (2015) Learning Portfolio, Gakujyutsu Kenkyu Shuppan.
