Enhancing the interactive learning environment in a Japanese language lecture through the student response network

Interactive learning is a key factor in motivating and retaining students in language units. In recent years, teaching a foreign language in a large lecture theatre has become more common in tertiary education. This raises pedagogical challenges, including the venue's relatively impersonal setting and the large number of students with comparatively limited familiarity and interaction with each other. This paper uses action research to explore the use of Student Response Networks (SRN) as an educational tool to develop an interactive and engaging foreign language lecture environment. It aims to encourage learners to actively participate and collaborate with their peers as well as teachers. Several class activities have been conducted using SRN in an intermediate Japanese language class at Macquarie University for one semester in 2013. Non-SRN and SRN surveys are used for data collection from participating students to compare their learning experiences and perceptions of classroom activities. The result shows that SRN use helps to engage students in peer and student-teacher interactions with increased motivation and engagement. It also encourages students' active participation while reducing stress and anxiety in a language lecture.