March has arrived, and two students will be graduating from the Yamada Laboratory. However, we will also be welcoming two new students. Both are international students. One will be the first doctoral student in the Yamada Laboratory. This student is in a dual-degree program with a Japanese university. The other is a research student. Coincidentally, both expressed an interest in researching Japanese language learning environments. The doctoral student is focusing on instructional design, while the research student is focusing on Japanese language learning support systems. I am looking forward to seeing what kind of research both of them will pursue. Looking into it, various Japanese language learning support systems have been developed so far, but it feels like there is still much that can be done. While there is no need to specialize exclusively in Japanese language learning, it might be good to proceed with projects related to language learning support environments, centered on students whose research themes align with them.

However, it seems that I am strongly recognized, both internationally and within the field of Educational Technology, as someone in the language learning field… Looking at the papers I have published so far, I can certainly understand why, but personally, I would like to broaden my scope a little more (laughs). I am honored to receive peer review requests from SSCI journals in the field of language education, so I do recognize it as one of my strengths. The areas I am expanding into include Learning Analytics research, Self-Regulated Learning research, and library-related research.

Things look like they will be exciting starting in April as well. I am looking forward to it.