Overview
I came to Cardiff University in 2015 and have been involved with teaching Japanese language modules and the Pedagogy of Modern Foreign Languages module for exchange students. I have also been conducting research on second language learning and teaching, in particular, autonomous language learning, language learning motivation, L2 (second/foreign language) literacy, and sociocultural theory for language learning and teaching. My teaching practices are based on insights from these research areas of applied linguistics.
Publication
2023
- Inaba, M. 2023. Mediation in informal language learning activities outside of the classroom. In: Toffoli, D., Sockett, G. and Kusyk, M. eds. Language Learning and Leisure: Informal Language Learning in the Digital Age. De Gruyter, pp. 185-206., (10.1515/9783110752441-009)
2021
- Inaba, M. 2021. How do social networks facilitate out-of-class L2 learning activities? Case studies of Australian and Swedish university students of Japanese. In: Carhill-Poza, A. and Kurata, N. eds. Social Networks in Language Learning and Language Teaching. Bloomsbury Academic, pp. 138-158.
2018
- Inaba, M. 2018. Second language literacy practices and language learning outside the classroom. Multilingual Matters.
- Inaba, M. 2018. How do social networks facilitate out-of-class L2 learning activities? Case studies of Australian and Swedish university students of Japanese. Presented at: The 2018 AAAL (American Association for Applied Linguistics) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, USA, 24-27 March 2018.
2017
- Inaba, M. and Okumura, S. 2017. A case study of communicative activities between learners of Japanese at beginner level and Japanese learners of English on SNS. Presented at: EAJS2017: 15th International Conference of the European Association for Japanese Studies, Lisbon, Portugal, 30 Aug - 2 Sept 2017.
- Inaba, M. 2017. A case study of communicative activities between learners of Japanese at beginner level and Japanese learners of English on SNS. Presented at: 15th European Association for Japanese Studies International Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, 30 August-2 September 2017.
- Inaba, M. and Kurata, N. 2017. Motivational transformation and its factors affecting transformation: A longitudinal case study of adult learners of Japanese in Australia and Sweden. Presented at: The Spring Conference of the Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language, Waseda University, Tokyo, 20-21 May 2017Proceedings of the Spring Conference of the Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language. pp. 233-238.
2016
- Inaba, M. 2016. Autonomous learning after course completion: A case study of learners of Japanese. Presented at: The European Conference on Language Learning, Brighton, UK, 29 June - 3 July.
2014
- Inaba, M. 2014. Significances and challenges of the video-making project work: an analysis of intrinsic motivation and autonomous language learning. Presented at: International Conference on Japanese Language Education, Sydney, Australia, 10-12 July 2014.
- Inaba, M. 2014. Pop culture and second language learning: utilizing visual and audio material in the Japanese classroom. Presented at: Humanistiska och teologiska fakulteternas pedagogiska inspirationskonferens 2012, Lund University, 2012.
2013
- Inaba, M. 2013. What is the role of "language classes" in autonomous learning? The implications from Japanese language learners - L2 activities outside the classroom. Presented at: The European Conference on Language Learning 2013, Brighton, UK, 18-21 July 2013Proceedings of the European Conference on Language Learning 2013. pp. 220-234.
2012
- Inaba, M. 2012. L2 literacy and ICT: Japanese language learners? online literacy activities outside the classroom. Monash University Linguistics Papers 8(1), pp. 53-64.
- Inaba, M. 2012. Out-of-class language learning activities of learners of Japanese and ICT: Case studies of Australian university students. Journal of Japan E-Learning Association 12, pp. 79-89.
2005
- Inaba, M. 2005. High school exchange students and learning Japanese in social networks: An analysis of language tasks in contexts. Waseda Journal of Japanese Applied Linguistics 6, pp. 95-111.
Articles
- Inaba, M. 2012. L2 literacy and ICT: Japanese language learners? online literacy activities outside the classroom. Monash University Linguistics Papers 8(1), pp. 53-64.
- Inaba, M. 2012. Out-of-class language learning activities of learners of Japanese and ICT: Case studies of Australian university students. Journal of Japan E-Learning Association 12, pp. 79-89.
- Inaba, M. 2005. High school exchange students and learning Japanese in social networks: An analysis of language tasks in contexts. Waseda Journal of Japanese Applied Linguistics 6, pp. 95-111.
Book sections
- Inaba, M. 2023. Mediation in informal language learning activities outside of the classroom. In: Toffoli, D., Sockett, G. and Kusyk, M. eds. Language Learning and Leisure: Informal Language Learning in the Digital Age. De Gruyter, pp. 185-206., (10.1515/9783110752441-009)
- Inaba, M. 2021. How do social networks facilitate out-of-class L2 learning activities? Case studies of Australian and Swedish university students of Japanese. In: Carhill-Poza, A. and Kurata, N. eds. Social Networks in Language Learning and Language Teaching. Bloomsbury Academic, pp. 138-158.
Books
- Inaba, M. 2018. Second language literacy practices and language learning outside the classroom. Multilingual Matters.
Conferences
- Inaba, M. 2018. How do social networks facilitate out-of-class L2 learning activities? Case studies of Australian and Swedish university students of Japanese. Presented at: The 2018 AAAL (American Association for Applied Linguistics) Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, USA, 24-27 March 2018.
- Inaba, M. and Okumura, S. 2017. A case study of communicative activities between learners of Japanese at beginner level and Japanese learners of English on SNS. Presented at: EAJS2017: 15th International Conference of the European Association for Japanese Studies, Lisbon, Portugal, 30 Aug - 2 Sept 2017.
- Inaba, M. 2017. A case study of communicative activities between learners of Japanese at beginner level and Japanese learners of English on SNS. Presented at: 15th European Association for Japanese Studies International Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, 30 August-2 September 2017.
- Inaba, M. and Kurata, N. 2017. Motivational transformation and its factors affecting transformation: A longitudinal case study of adult learners of Japanese in Australia and Sweden. Presented at: The Spring Conference of the Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language, Waseda University, Tokyo, 20-21 May 2017Proceedings of the Spring Conference of the Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language. pp. 233-238.
- Inaba, M. 2016. Autonomous learning after course completion: A case study of learners of Japanese. Presented at: The European Conference on Language Learning, Brighton, UK, 29 June - 3 July.
- Inaba, M. 2014. Significances and challenges of the video-making project work: an analysis of intrinsic motivation and autonomous language learning. Presented at: International Conference on Japanese Language Education, Sydney, Australia, 10-12 July 2014.
- Inaba, M. 2014. Pop culture and second language learning: utilizing visual and audio material in the Japanese classroom. Presented at: Humanistiska och teologiska fakulteternas pedagogiska inspirationskonferens 2012, Lund University, 2012.
- Inaba, M. 2013. What is the role of "language classes" in autonomous learning? The implications from Japanese language learners - L2 activities outside the classroom. Presented at: The European Conference on Language Learning 2013, Brighton, UK, 18-21 July 2013Proceedings of the European Conference on Language Learning 2013. pp. 220-234.
Research
My research interests include topics related to out-of-class language learning activities, such as autonomous language learning, language learning motivation, L2 literacy, and the use of ICT. I have also been interested in applying sociocultural theory perspectives to investigate L2 learning beyond the classroom, and presented research papers at international and national conferences for applied linguistics and Japanese language education.
Conference presentations (selected)
Inaba, M. (2021). Mediation in informal language learning activities outside of the classroom: Case studies of learners of Japanese. The AILA (International Association of Applied Linguistics) 2020 World Congress, 15-20 August, Online.
Inaba, M. (2019). Out -of-class L2 learning activities and learners’ social networks: Case studies of Australian and Swedish learners of Japanese. The BAAL (British Association for Applied Linguistics) 2019 Annual Meeting, 29-31 August, Manchester Metropolitan University, UK
Inaba, M. (2018). Out-of-class language learning and dynamics of L2 learning motivation: case studies involving learners of Japanese. The BAAL (British Association for Applied Linguistics) 2018 Annual Meeting, 6-8 September, York St John University, UK
Inaba, M. (2018). How do social networks facilitate out-of-class L2 learning activities? Case studies of Australian and Swedish university students of Japanese. The 2018 AAAL (American Association for Applied Linguistics) Annual Conference, 24-27 March, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
Inaba, M. & Okumura, S. (2017). A case study of communicative activities between learners of Japanese at beginner level and Japanese learners of English on SNS. 15th EAJS (European Association for Japanese Studies) International Conference, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal.
Inaba, M. (2017). Written communication with native speakers on SNS: challenges for beginner students of Japanese. Fourth Colloquium on Innovation in Modern Languages Education, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Inaba, M. & Kurata, N. (2017). Motivational transformation and its factors affecting transformation: A longitudinal case study of adult learners of Japanese in Australia and Sweden (Japanese). Spring Conference of the Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language, Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan.
Inaba, M. (2016). Autonomous learning after course completion: A case study of learners of Japanese. The ECLL (The European Conference on Language Learning) 2016, Brighton, UK.
Inaba, M. (2013). What is the role of "language classes" in autonomous learning?: The implications from Japanese language learners' L2 activities outside the classroom. plenary talk at The ECLL (the European Conference on Language Learning) 2013. Brighton, UK
Teaching
I am currently a coordinator for Elementary Japanese (Year 1) and Post A-level Japanese (Year 1).
I am also a Japanese-specific tutor for the Pedagogy of Modern Foreign Language module for exchange students.
Biography
Education and Qualifications
PhD (Japanese Applied Linguistics), Monash University, Australia
MA (Japanese Applied Linguistics), Waseda University, Japan
BA (Japanese History), Waseda University, Japan
Japanese Teacher Qualification
Japanese Language Teaching Competency Test (passed in January, 2003)
Career Overview
My career as a Japanese teacher began as a sessional tutor for high school exchange students and at private language schools in Japan while I was working for my MA degree at Waseda University in 2002 and 2003. After the MA, I taught Japanese at Lund University in Sweden between 2004 and 2006. During my time in Sweden, I developed a special interest in autonomous language learning beyond the classroom, which led me to my PhD study at Monash University in Australia. Since then, I have been conducting research on this topic, and applied insights from my own research as well as previous studies in this area to my teaching practices.
While working on my PhD research between 2007 and 2011, I taught various types of Japanese classes from beginner to advanced levels at Monash University. Prior to joining Cardiff University in 2015, I returned to Lund University and taught Japanese language and Japanese linguistics/general linguistics as a lecturer.
Professional memberships
Professional Memberships
Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
Member of the:
British Association of Applied Linguistics (BAAL)
British Association for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language (BATJ)
Association of Japanese Language Teachers in Europe (AJE)
The Society for Teaching Japanese as a Foreign Language
Academic positions
2015 - present: Lecturer in Japanese language, Cardiff University
2012 - 2015: Lecturer, Lund University, Sweden