LANGUAGE ATTITUDES OF NGUYEN TAT THANH UNIVERSITY STUDENTS TOWARD LEARNING JAPANESE IN RECENT YEARS AND PROPOSED ACTIVE LEARNING METHODS

In recent years, the language attitudes of students of Nguyen Tat Thanh University (NTTU) and some other training institutions towards learning Japanese have undergone notable changes, reflecting the development of foreign language learning trends in Vietnam. Many young people are eager to study abroad or experience Japanese culture. The popularity of anime, manga, and Japanese cultural trends serves as a major motivation for learning Japanese.

Japanese is increasingly becoming a popular foreign language due to recruitment demand from Japanese enterprises. Students recognize career opportunities when proficient in Japanese, especially in fields like technology, tourism, business, and engineering. Some students are highly motivated and pursue JLPT certificates (from N5 to N1) to improve employment prospects. However, others learn Japanese only to meet graduation requirements without serious investment. The complexity of Japanese grammar, the writing system (Kanji, Hiragana, Katakana), and pronunciation often makes it more difficult compared to English or Korean.

This paper adopts a sociolinguistic approach, using both quantitative and qualitative methods to analyze and evaluate language attitudes among students, with the goal of enhancing motivation and finding effective learning strategies for NTTU students and other institutions offering Japanese language education. The findings indicate students are increasingly positive toward learning Japanese but still face significant challenges. Effective learning methods can accelerate language acquisition and improve career prospects.