The use of Japanese and the improvement of communication skills are the ultimate goals of Japanese education. This study explores the factors that improve the Japanese communicative capability of learners in vocational colleges to find effective teaching methods to help students better adapt to the society and job market. Based on the action-oriented approach, this study compares the results of three questionnaire surveys and the educational sites to make a comprehensive analysis of the Japanese communicative capability and adaptation to workplace.
The results show that compared with four-year undergraduate students, students in vocational colleges have features of low basic academic ability, bad self-discipline, insufficient learning intentions, active thinking and behaviors, and strong hands-on skill. Due to the improper use of traditional teaching methods, Japanese majors in vocational colleges have problems in communication skills, which means low combat power, and crisis in employment prospects. Based on the current learning situation of Japanese majors, the “action-oriented teaching approach” will become an effective and necessary teaching method to improve the communication ability of learners, and harmoniously coexist with traditional teaching methods.
This research is expected to play its role in the future vocational Japanese education. The author believes that the study results can be applied to the following five aspects:
1 Course setting and reform of Japanese majors in higher vocational colleges.
2 Turn the leading role of Japanese education from teachers to students.
3 Adopt a comprehensive evaluation method.
4 Preparation and updating of teaching materials.
5 In the meantime, improving the basic linguistic ability and other skills to obtain the balance between “traditional teaching method” and “action teaching method”.