Development of Japanese Language Support System by PC Cameras and its analysis

本研究的目的是利用电脑摄像头为日语学习者创造协作学习环境，使日语学习者可以与日语导师或信息提供者进行交流，提高学习日语或赴日学习的动机。为此，我们在2006年进行了一些初步研究，2007年开展了三个项目，取得了以下成果：2006年，我们准备了启动项目所需的机器和软件。Gunarto测试了这些机器和一些软件，发现Skype最适合我们的项目。梅田、佐佐木和植谷访问了位于奥什科什的威斯康辛大学，观看了日语远程教学课程，并为该大学安装了电脑摄像机。2007年下半年和2008年全年，我们在立命馆亚太大学与马来西亚马来亚大学、澳大利亚新南威尔士大学和美国威斯康辛大学奥什科什分校进行了语言交流，其中大部分研究人员都在立命馆亚太大学。根据测试结果，我们可以说，使用个人电脑摄像机不会出现严重的技术问题，尽管两所院校之间的日期和时间安排很麻烦，因为它们的学术日历不同。教学材料有待进一步改进，但总体而言，通过电脑摄像头与导师合作学习日语是非常有效的。

The purpose of this research is to create collaborative learning environments for Japanese by using PC cameras, where learners of Japanese could communicate with Japanese tutors or informants and raise their motivations toward leaning Japanese or going to Japan for studying. To achieve this, we conducted some preliminary research in 2006, conducted three projects in 2007 and gained the following result.(1) The preliminary researchIn 2006 we prepared the machines and software necessary to start the projects. Gunarto tested the machines and some software and found Skype most appropriate for our projects. Umeda, Sasaki and Unetani visited University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, observed distance learning classes of Japanese and installed PC cameras for the institution.(2) The three ProjectsIn the latter half of 2007 and the entirety of 2008 we had language exchanges connecting the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University where most of the researchers of this project are, with the University of Malaya in Malaysia, the New South Wales University in Australia and the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, in the USA.Based on the results we can say that there would be no serious technical problems in the use of PC cameras although arrangements of date and time between two institutions whose academic calendars differ are cumbersome. Teaching materials have to be further improved, but overall, collaborative Japanese language learning with tutors through PC cameras was found to be very effective.