2027 Summer Research Program

Duration: 6 weeks (11 January to 19 February 2027)
Hours of engagement: 20–36 hours per week
Delivery mode: Hybrid (on-site and off-campus)
Location: School of Languages and Cultures, UQ St Lucia.

Specific working arrangements will be agreed with the successful applicant within the Summer Research Program dates.

How much can we learn about a language learner’s proficiency from short samples of their writing? This project explores written Japanese produced by learners of Japanese as a second or additional language. It forms part of a broader research program investigating individual differences in second language proficiency and development.

The project will use an existing collection of Japanese learner writing and associated learner-background information. The research will investigate characteristics of these texts and consider how features of written production may relate to learners’ language proficiency. It will also explore how individual learner variables, such as language background and previous language-learning experience, may be associated with patterns in learners’ written production. Depending on the research focus, the project may draw on automated text-analysis tools, corpus-based methods, and systematic linguistic analysis. The student will contribute to preparing and organising the learner-language data for analysis and applying appropriate methods to examine the writing samples. The project will provide insight into how learner-language data and individual learner characteristics can help us better understand variation in second language proficiency and development.

Working with the supervisor, you will become familiar with research on second language writing, learner language, individual differences in language learning, and language assessment, as well as methods for examining Japanese learner texts. A major component of the project will involve preparing and organising an existing dataset of Japanese learner writing and associated learner-background information for research use. This may include checking and cleaning data, organising and categorising writing samples and learner information, preparing texts for analysis, and systematically documenting the dataset. Depending on the needs of the project, you may also use automated text-analysis tools, corpus-based techniques and/or systematic linguistic coding to extract information from the writing samples. You will work to ensure that the data are prepared consistently and accurately and contribute to documenting the procedures and preliminary patterns identified during the project.

You will gain hands-on experience working on a research project in second language acquisition and develop a broader understanding of how research is conducted using authentic learner data. You will gain experience working with research data, engaging with relevant academic literature, and contributing to different stages of the research process. The project will also provide opportunities to develop transferable research skills, including careful and systematic data management, critical thinking, attention to detail, documenting research procedures, working independently, and collaborating with a research supervisor. You will also gain experience communicating research-related information and findings in written and oral formats. The specific skills and methods you develop will depend on the direction and needs of the project.

By the end of the project, the student is expected to have contributed to the preparation and systematic examination of an existing dataset of L2 Japanese writing and associated learner information. The project will contribute to our understanding of variation in learner writing and second language proficiency and help establish a foundation for further research using the dataset. Expected outputs may include an organised research dataset, documentation of research procedures, preliminary findings or observations, and a research presentation or report. The work completed during the project will contribute to broader research on L2 Japanese proficiency, learner variation, and second language development and may inform subsequent analyses and research outputs.

This project would suit a student with an interest in Japanese language, linguistics, applied linguistics, second language learning, language assessment, or related areas. As the project involves working directly with Japanese learner writing, applicants should have native or near-native proficiency in Japanese. The project would particularly suit a student who has strong attention to detail, good organisational skills, and the ability to work independently. Applicants should also have good written and oral communication skills, be comfortable working systematically with research data, and be willing to learn new research methods as required during the project.

The student will work closely with the supervisor throughout the project, with regular meetings to discuss the research context, relevant literature, project activities, and progress. The project forms part of ongoing research into second language acquisition, Japanese language proficiency, and language assessment. The student will receive guidance on working with authentic learner-language data and on the specific research procedures required for the project.

Yes, students may contact the supervisor before applying.

Direct enquiries to: Dr. Sanako Mitsugi (s.mitsugi@uq.edu.au)