Plain language in the healthcare of Japan:a systematic review of“plain Japanese”

Objective:Despite the decrease in the number of foreign visitors and residents in Japan due to the coronavirus disease 2019,a resurgence is remarkable from 2022.However,Japan's medical support system for foreign patients,especially residents,is inadequate,with language barriers potentially causing health disparities.Comprehensive interpretation and translation services are challenging,but“plain Japanese”may be a viable alternative for foreign patients with basic Japanese language skills.This study explores the application and obstacles of plain Japanese in the medical sector.Methods:A literature review was performed across these databases:Web of Science,PubMed,Google Scholar,Scopus,CINAHL Plus,Springer Link and Ichushi-Web(Japanese medical literature).The search covered themes related to healthcare,care for foreign patients,and scholarly articles,and was conducted in July 2023.Results:The study incorporated five papers.Each paper emphasized the language barriers foreign residents in Japan face when accessing healthcare,highlighting the critical role and necessity of plain Japanese in medical environments.Most of the reports focused on the challenges of delivering medical care to foreign patients and the training of healthcare professionals in using plain Japanese for communication.Conclusion:The knowledge and application of plain Japanese among healthcare professionals are inadequate,and literature also remains scarce.With the increasing number of foreign residents in Japan,the establishment of a healthcare system that effectively uses plain Japanese is essential.However,plain Japanese may not be the optimal linguistic assistance in certain situations,thus it is imperative to encourage more research and reports on healthcare services using plain Japanese.

Japanese Sign Language Recognition by Combining Joint Skeleton-Based Handcrafted and Pixel-Based Deep Learning Features with Machine Learning Classification

Sign language recognition is vital for enhancing communication accessibility among the Deaf and hard-of-hearing communities.In Japan,approximately 360,000 individualswith hearing and speech disabilities rely on Japanese Sign Language(JSL)for communication.However,existing JSL recognition systems have faced significant performance limitations due to inherent complexities.In response to these challenges,we present a novel JSL recognition system that employs a strategic fusion approach,combining joint skeleton-based handcrafted features and pixel-based deep learning features.Our system incorporates two distinct streams:the first stream extracts crucial handcrafted features,emphasizing the capture of hand and body movements within JSL gestures.Simultaneously,a deep learning-based transfer learning stream captures hierarchical representations of JSL gestures in the second stream.Then,we concatenated the critical information of the first stream and the hierarchy of the second stream features to produce the multiple levels of the fusion features,aiming to create a comprehensive representation of the JSL gestures.After reducing the dimensionality of the feature,a feature selection approach and a kernel-based support vector machine(SVM)were used for the classification.To assess the effectiveness of our approach,we conducted extensive experiments on our Lab JSL dataset and a publicly available Arabic sign language(ArSL)dataset.Our results unequivocally demonstrate that our fusion approach significantly enhances JSL recognition accuracy and robustness compared to individual feature sets or traditional recognition methods.

Researching Creativity in Second Language Acquisition:Book Review

In the realm of psychology and language acquisition,the exploration of“individual differences”-encompassing attributes such as personality traits,motivation,and language aptitude-has long been a focal point of scholarly investigation.Within this sphere,the book“Researching Creativity in Second Language Acquisition”by Ashleigh Pipes offers a fresh perspective on the role of creativity as a significant individual difference in Second Language Acquisition(SLA).Positioned against the backdrop of extensive empirical research on individual differences,this book stands out by focusing on the often overlooked aspect of creativity,which Pipes argues,holds paramount importance in SLA.

A Review of Research on Second Language Acquisition from a Positive Psychology Perspective

This paper reviews the research on second language acquisition from the perspective of positive psychology.First,it introduces the background and purpose of the study and discusses the significance of the application of positive psychology in the field of language acquisition.Then,the basic theories of positive psychology,including the core concepts and principles of positive psychology,are summarized.Subsequently,the theory of second language acquisition is defined and outlined,including the definition,characteristics,and related developmental theories of second language acquisition.On this basis,the study of second language acquisition from the perspective of positive psychology is discussed in detail.By combing and synthesizing the literature,this paper summarizes the current situation and trend of second language acquisition research under the perspective of positive psychology and puts forward some future research directions and suggestions.

Analysis of an Output-Oriented Teaching Method in College English under the Second Language Acquisition Theory

In the context of economic globalization,English has become increasingly essential for students’communication and professional activities,necessitating higher proficiency in speaking and listening.The theory of second language acquisition posits that college English teaching can purposefully guide students’learning and facilitate unconscious language acquisition.By integrating an output-oriented teaching method,students are provided with opportunities to practice and apply English,thereby addressing the traditional issue of“separation of learning and use.”This paper examines the application value of the output-oriented teaching method in college English under the second language acquisition theory and proposes several strategies to enhance college English classroom teaching.The goal is to develop students’linguistic competence and improve their practical English skills.

Research on the Application of Second Language Acquisition Theory in College English Speech Teaching

The teaching of English speeches in universities aims to enhance oral communication ability,improve English communication skills,and expand English knowledge,occupying a core position in English teaching in universities.This article takes the theory of second language acquisition as the background,analyzes the important role and value of this theory in English speech teaching in universities,and explores how to apply the theory of second language acquisition in English speech teaching in universities.It aims to strengthen the cultivation of English skilled talents and provide a brief reference for improving English speech teaching in universities.

Student Evaluations as Effective Indicators of Learning Outcomes:Evidence from Japanese University Students in English Language Courses

The term"student learning outcomes"refers to the knowledge, skills, and abilitiesthat students achieve during a course, and is typically assessed based on student evaluations conducted at the end of the semester. Previous studies in this area have investigated the effects of instructional quality and academic demands separately and have been limited primarily to examining findings using student samples fromthe United States. With Japanese college students' perceptions of self-improvementin English language courses as the dependent variable, the present study directly tests the hypothesis that students who perceive instructional quality to be higher, andcourse demands to be greater, also estimate higher levels of self-improvement in English language skills. The analysis provides strong support for this hypothesis.Higher ratings of instruction and academic demands have already beenshown to increase levels of student learning(Greimel-Fuhrmann and Geyer 2003;Nois and Hudson 2006; Mc Fadden and Dart 1992). The present study is the first toprovide direct evidence of the relative importance of student evaluations ofinstructional quality and academic demands as predictors of student learning and thefirst ever to do so with a sample of Japanese college students enrolled in a required English as a foreign language course. Our hypothesis is that Japanese students whoperceive instructional quality to be higher, and course demands to be greater,estimate higher levels of self-improvement in English language skills. Thus we test Japanese students' attitudes toward instructional quality and course demands asindependent variables predicting their perceptions of self-improvement in English language courses. The research focuses on Japanese students' improvement in English language skills because English education in Japan is an arena in which thedebate over limited English proficiency rages on, and because other research suggests reconsideration of English education in light of the demands of the rapidly expanding global era(Amaki 2008).

A Study on Strategy and Method of Acquisition of the Second Foreign Language

With the successful hosting of the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the World Exposition Shanghai China 2010,English,next to our mother tongue,has become the most important language in China.Therefore,learning English well is very important for most Chinese people.However,learning a foreign language well is not easy.We have to master several learning strategies and methods to learn it successfully.This paper will help all the foreign language learners to find the effective way in learning the second foreign languge.The paper mainly talks about two aspects:improving the abilities in listening,speaking and reading in order to communicate well;developing the ability of writing in English and perfecting the function of social communication.It gives out the concrete methods in listening,speaking,reading,writing,and translating.The authors hope that the paper would be helpful in assisting the foreign language learners to learn and master the second foreign language.

Idioms,Collocations,Formulaic Phrases and Second Language Acquisition

Idioms,collocations,and formulaic phrases are three factors playing the important role in the second language acquisition(SLA).This essay firstly deals with the definitions of these concepts,then it illustrates the importance of them to SLA on two perspectives—idioms,collocations,and formulaic phrases respectively and they regarded as a whole.Therefore,in this way,the essay may lead to the answer the question“How are idioms,collocations,and formulaic phrases important to SLA?”

Age Factor in Second Language Acquisition

In the second language acquisition, the study focus of linguistics is the influence of age factors which has always been considered as one of the most controversial issues. Some experts hold that the younger the better and would get good competence to learn language well, meanwhile others believe that adult have more strong motivation and competence.Based on the Brain Plasticity Theory and the Critical Period Hypothesis, and the intention of this thesis is to reveal such a hypothesis that the younger the learner who starts to learn a second language, the greater performance that he will achieve like a native does, through the comparative research between children and adults. The subjects are 100 Chinese learners who begin learning at different levels and ages. According to the results of integrated scores and a collection of the data in the questionnaire, an analysis show that the results acquired would be consistent with the hypothesis.The intention of this research is not only to argue which is better, earlier or later, but also an trial, through investigation and study, to provide some insights and suggestion to the existent issues, especially the children second language education and college English study in China.

Negative Transfer in Second Language Acquisition

Negative transfer is the basic term we need to master in second language acquisition.This paper tries to analyze negative transfer of Chinese from the aspects of lexis,syntax and pragmatics.Besides,it provides suggestions on how to minimize negative transfer in second language teaching.

The Correlation between L1A and Second Language Teaching

L1A(first language acquisition)is expected to shed light on the L2(second language)teaching.However,how far L1A correlates with second language teaching is an argument that never ends.Hence,the hypotheses on L1A and its connection with L2 Teaching are analyzed,along with a discussion on the relationship between L1A,L2A and L2 Teaching.The limitation of L1A to L2T is elaborated from the aspect of literacy,age and time distinction.

Evaluation of Email Effectiveness in ESL Writing Classroom Guided by Second Language Acquisition Theory

The wide application of internet technology has provided the possibility to study and research new writing concepts and teaching modes in the classroom of English as a Second Language(ESL).In this trend,using email to assist English writing class has gained much attention in this field.This paper discusses the evaluation of email effectiveness with the implication of the Second Language Acquisition(SLA) theory.The result shows that the email assisted English writing class is a very salient method though it had its limitation somehow.

On the Role of Noticing in Second Language Acquisition and Learning

Apparent discrepancy exists between Schmidt's Noticing Hypothesis and Krashen's Input Hypothesis. Whilst Krashen highlights the importance of comprehensible input and asserts that language is acquired unconciously, the notion of conscious learning has gained wide support from Schmidt and other researchers. They argue that noticing enhances second language development as one crucial level of consciousness. By reviewing the theoretical constructs that underlie the role of noticing, this paper aims to justify the role of noticing as one crucial level of consciousness in enhancing second language learning.

Pedagogical Implications for Second Language Acquisition

Second language acquisition is influenced by various factors,among which age and environment are two major factors.Language acquisition and language learning are two different concepts,but they are correlated and they interact with each other.Therefore,in second language teaching teachers and researchers should follow the rules of second language acquisition and second language learning and analyze the factors such as learners' possible errors,motivation,learning strategies and personalities.

Language Awareness and Second Language Learning:A Critical Review

Beginning with the history,definition and levels of Language Awareness,this paper reviewed and analyzed two views:1) Language awareness is one necessary condition in language learning,or 2) Language learning can be achieved without Language Awareness.It pointed out the problems existing in these studies:1) Limitations in sample choice,concerning the adult beginning learners instead of the learners in different learning stages;2) Limitations in methodology,preferring cross-sectional researches to longitudinal case studies;and 3) Limitations in material choice,focusing on "word" level rather than other levels or aspects of language learning.This paper argued that language awareness is dynamic in the whole process of language learning.

The Role of First Language in the Second Language Acquisition

In the linguistic field,L1transfer is a complex and controversial field in second language acquisition.In this article,Firstly,it will discuss some historical theories of L1 transfer.Secondly,it will analyze some manifestations of L1 transfer.Thirdly,it will explain the struc tural and the nonstructural factors in L1 transfer.Fourthly,it will discuss the problems in the study of L1transfer.Finally,it will give some my opinions of L1transfer.

EFL Teaching Guided by Krashen's Hypotheses in Second Language Acquisition Theory

Based on discussion of the second language acquisition theories,the thesis aims at improving foreign language teaching,and states the implications on our teaching ideas,and what we teachers should do in our EFL practice.

Review on Learner Belief about Second Language Learning

Learner belief is attracting growing attention since it is regarded as one element of individual difference which account for learners' different achievements in second language learning. This article gives a review o studies of learner belief about second language learning concerning its properties, classifications, and majo approaches to investigation. Based on the review, the importance of the research in the field is emphasized.