A Literature Review and Future Research Directions on the Learning of English Modal Verbs in Academic English by Japanese Learners

ニホンジン　ダイガクセイ　ヲ　タイショウ　ト　シタ　ガクジュツ　エイゴ　ニ　オケル　ホウジョドウシ　ノ　ガクシュウ　ニ　カンスル　ケンキュウ　ノ　ソウカツ　ト　コンゴ　ノ　ケンキュウ　カダイ

カジヤマ, タツヤ

Kajiyama, Tatsuya

Center For Education In Liberal Arts And Sciences, Osaka University

学習者調査

学習者コーパス

学習法研究

概念基盤学習

modal auxiliary verbs

learner study

learner corpus study

learning method research

concept-based learning

Review Article

This study summarizes previous studies on learning modal verbs among Japanese university students in academic English and proposes potential future research directions. English modal verbs pose significant challenges to learners because of their complex form, meaning, and function. Research on these verbs has increased, particularly since the 1970s, along with the growing popularity of English for academic purposes (EAP) because the accurate use of the modal verbs leads to the appropriateness of academic English writing. However, due to their complexity, studies on modal verbs have been fragmented, often focusing on learning environments or methods, making it difficult to identify clear directions for future studies. This study reviews existing research on learning modal verbs in academic English and identifies potential future research directions.