Linguistic Ecosystems for Foreign-Language Learning in Canada and Japan: An International Comparison of Where Language-Learning Beliefs Come from

University of Alberta, Faculty of Education. 845 Education Centre South, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G5, Canada. Tel: 780-492-7941; Fax: 780-492-0236; Web site: http://ajer.synergiesprairies.ca

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Foreign Culture; Linguistics; Second Language Learning; Ideology; Foreign Countries; Comparative Analysis; Interviews; Beliefs; Cross Cultural Studies; Cultural Awareness

Canada; Japan

0002-4805

We report on international research that compares linguistic ecosystems, that is, socially constructed public attitudes and ideologies concerned with foreign-language (FL) learning, in Canada and Japan. Analyzing responses to three interview questions from 125 interviews with five categories of respondent in each country, we suggest that there are a number of key differences between the linguistic ecosystems of the two countries, most notably that whereas Canada appears to promote the learning of foreign culture with little support for FL learning, Japan appears to promote FL learning without the learning of foreign culture.

As Provided

2012

EJ950876