Self-Introduction
I believe that “language is the key to unlocking the world”. Learning a foreign language helps you gain cultural awareness and improve your communication skills. Being enthusiastic about learning languages, I have learned six languages so far. Teaching languages is my passion in life. I have been trained as a foreign language teacher and teaching languages for more than ten years. This is my first year teaching at Waseda University, and I have previously worked at Japan Women’s University, Kokushikan University, Kyushu Institute of Technology, and National Taiwan Normal University. In addition to teaching, I have practical experience editing paper-based and digital learning materials as an editor at two publishers. I believe the end goal of education is lifelong learning, and what teachers can do is support learners to achieve their own goals. Thus, I adopt learner-centred methods in my classroom through plenty of activities to enhance learner motivation. I am eager to create an open environment for students to explore their learning interests and share their opinions.
Recent Research Interest
My main research interests are Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL), language teacher and learner motivation, as well as teacher training and development. Currently, I am writing a book chapter on learner autonomy and technology. It focuses on the theories around motivation and research methodology in CALL. Hopefully, it will be published soon. Besides, I will be conducting another research project on learner strategies for using machine translation for learning English as a foreign language.
Profile
Wang Yijen is an Assistant Professor in the School of International Liberal Studies at Waseda University. (*1) She completed her PhD in Applied Linguistics from the Graduate School of International Culture and Communication Studies at Waseda University, focusing on the factors affecting the adoption of technology by teachers and students in language teaching. She has published a number of research articles and book chapters in the field of technology and language education, specifically looking at learner and teacher motivation and the development of autonomy. She is currently associate editor of Technology in Language Teaching & Learning, and I review for multiple international journals in the field.
