Research Field・Theme：Young Learners／Teacher Education／Picturebooks／Social-Emotional Learning／Intercultural Learning

My research：
As a qualified primary school teacher, a teacher of young learners for over 20 years and then a teacher-trainer at Miyagi University of Education for 10 years, my research has almost solely been focused on young learners. Picturebook read-alouds can be an engaging activity that develops a wide range of literacies including emotional, or cultural literacy. I am currently undertaking classroom-based research with a focus on facilitating social-emotional learning and intercultural learning through picturebooks in various EFL settings. My research looks at learners' responses to read-alouds, both written and artistic, with the aim of educating holistically through this approach.

Research Field・Theme：CLIL／Language Through Literature／Intersectional Gender Issues

My research：
I am a language teacher above all, and my research interests are very broad, because I am interested in anything that makes me a better teacher and helps me to communicate better with my students and colleagues. I have presented and published papers on gender, racism, literature (especially poetry), expressive writing, and CLIL (Content and Language Integrated Learning, which basically means that language is taught through authentic academic subjects, such as culture or psychology). I am also very interested in professional and personal reflection, and I have written in a journal almost every day since I was a child.

Research Field・Theme：Curriculum design／CALL and vocabulary

My research：
I am interested in designing and researching teaching practices which promote students’ creativity, autonomy, and 21st century skills. I have conducted research on using augmented reality for storytelling, student-created multimodal vocabulary flashcards, a collaborative Model United Nations unit, online versus in-person learning, and guessing in vocabulary tests. I like collaborating with others and I am always interested in researching new topics. I hope my research can help to develop materials and courses which give students the confidence and skills to thrive in the modern world.

Research Field・Theme：Art Studies／Contemporary Japanese art／Pop culture and media／Arts and health／Arts and dementia

My research：
My research interests are interdisciplinary, but they all revolve around the visual arts, media, and popular culture. I have always been fascinated by how our visual world influences us: how we interpret it, and how we can use it to our benefit. Currently, I am researching how art and arts-based activities can help persons living with dementia. Engaging community participation and communication provides a learning opportunity to students and a creative outlet for patients and carers, especially those on extended care. It is my goal to harness the arts to make life brighter for everyone.

研究分野・専門：応用言語学／第二言語習得／Task-based language teaching／L2 writing

これまでの研究：
日本のように、日本語以外の言語が日常的に使用されていない環境でどのように外国語を学習するか、どのような成長過程を経て上達していくのかということについて興味をもっており、特に学習者間における教室内でのインターアクションに着目しています。大学の英語の授業ではペアやグループでの活動が多くありますが、活動を通じて忘れていた単語を思い出したり、人の意見や発表を聞いて、新たな視点を得てそれが発話やライティングでのアウトプットにつながったりといったことを経験すると思います。そういった学習者間における相互作用と言語運用の関係をライティングなどの実際の言語データとインタビュー調査などを通じて研究しています。

研究分野・専門：TESOL／Applied Linguistics／Systemic Functional Linguistics／Academic Debate

これまでの研究：
主に効果的な英語教授法と応用言語学を研究しています。その中でも特に、Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL: 選択体系機能言語学) を活用したライティングやリーディングの指導方法を探求しています。SFLでは、いつだれがどのような状況でどのように表現するかを総合的に考える事で、同じ表現や言葉でも違う機能として働きうることが示唆されています。反対に、違う言葉や表現が似た機能を発揮することもあります。従って、その知見を活用することは、状況に合わせた、より効果的な表現方法を身につけることにつながります。相手に理解してもらいやすい表現を考えるということです。あるいは相手の表現を読み解くことにも役立ちます。もう一つの研究テーマとして、教育的ディベートにも力を入れています。議論の勝ち負けにこだわる対決的なアプローチではなく、多様な視点を意識した協調的なディベートを取り入れることで、英語の4技能に加え、リサーチ力やコミュニーケーション力を総合的に向上させることができます。また、思考力やチームワークを育むことにもつながり、英語が楽しく学べます。

Research Field・Theme：Second language acquisition／communication skills／technology enhanced language learning／learning and teaching pedagogies

My research：
Have you ever wondered what makes learning stick? If you have, then that is what I have been interested in and been reading up on (learning and teaching pedagogies). I also fell in love with language and read how to make learning English lasts a bit longer (second language acquisition). Along the way, how to use English effectively and to communicate well became important (communication skills). Last but not least, technology has become almost a second skin and I have been asking questions about it on language learning (technology enhanced language learning).

Research Field・Theme：Teacher education / Emotion regulation

My research：
I have long been interested in the psychology of language learning, and in my past research I have explored how classroom events might influence the emotional experiences of teachers and students. I am currently researching emotion regulation strategies, preparing a training programme for in-service teachers to recognise how their emotion management decisions influence learner outcomes. Most importantly, I am trying to understand how emotions can be regulated effectively to improve the ways that languages are taught and learnt.

研究分野・専門：ロシア民俗学／文化人類学／ロシア語教育／精霊信仰／物質文化

これまでの研究：
これまでロシアの民衆文化を中心に研究してきました。とくに関心のある領域は、ロシアの精霊信仰についてです。この精霊信仰とは、元々は異教と呼ばれるキリスト教受容以前に存在していた多神教であったとされ、変容しつつも、現代まで残されてきました。日本では精霊信仰というと非現実的なイメージがありますが、ロシア人たちにとっては今もリアリティを持って語られる強い影響力を持ちます。私はこの精霊信仰の世界観がどのようにロシア人によって形作られてきたのかを特に建築技術の発展や生活様式の変化という視点から研究しています。