International Journal of Distance Education Technologies, 9(3), 45-55, July-September 2011 45 Copyright © 2011, IGI Global. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global is prohibited. Keywords: Collaborative Learning, E-Learning, FAQ, Language Learning, Motivation INTRODUCTION Research in educational systems provides tech- nological support for collaborative learning that is advocated by educational theories (Slavin, 1990, Malley, 1994, Webb & Palincsar, 1996). In developed countries like Japan, Informa- tion and Communication Technology (ICT) is widely applied in language learning. A FAQ-Based e-Learning Environment to Support Japanese Language Learning Yuqin Liu, Dalian University of Technology, China Chengjiu Yin, Kyushu University, Japan Hiroaki Ogata, University of Tokushima and Japan Science and TechnologyAgency, Japan Guojun Qiao, Dalian University of Technology, China Yoneo Yano, University of Tokushima, Japan ABSTRACT In traditional classes, having many questions from learners is important because these questions indicate diffcult points for learners and for teachers. This paper proposes a FAQ-based e-Learning environment to support Japanese language learning that focuses on learner questions. This knowledge sharing system enables learners to interact and share information and knowledge through FAQ and e-mail. Teachers contribute an- swers to discussion among learners. The system also allows learners to discuss and collaborate, stimulating their motivation to study Japanese as a foreign language. All questions are stored in a FAQ database, allow- ing other learners to reuse resources, helping learners learn by themselves and reduce teacher workloads. In Japan, a Japanese language course for overseas learners is typically designed for about ten learners. In China, there are about twenty- five learners in a general Japanese language course and about fifty learners in a common course. China has about 680,000 learners of Japanese and only about 12,000 Japanese lan- guage teachers (JPF, 2009), so it is important to use computer technology and the Internet to support Japanese language learning. High teacher-learner ratio means that many questions cannot be answered in class, so an e-Learning DOI: 10.4018/jdet.2011070104