Vocabulary Education for Korean Beginner Level Using PWIM

PWIM 활용 한국어 초급 어휘교육

The purpose of this study is to summarize PWIM (Picture Words Inductive Model) which is one of learner-centered vocabulary teaching-learning models, and suggest ways to implement them in Korean language education. The pictures that are used in the Korean language education field help visualize the specific shape, color, and texture of the vocabulary that is the learning target; thus, helping beginner learners to recognize the meaning of the sound. Visual material stimulates the intrinsic schema of the learner and not only becomes a 'bridge' connecting the mother tongue and the Korean language, but also reduces difficulty in learning a foreign language because of the ambiguity between meaning and sound in Korean and all languages. PWIM shows commonality with existing learning methods in that it uses visual materials. However, in the past, the teacher-centered learning method has only imitated the teacher because the teacher showed a piece-wise, out-of-life photograph and taught the word. PWIM is a learner-centered learning method that stimulates learners to find vocabulary on their own by presenting visual information reflecting the context. In this paper, PWIM is more suitable for beginner learners who are learning specific concrete vocabulary such as personal identity (mainly objects), residence and environment, daily life, shopping, health, climate, and traffic. The purpose of this study was to develop a method of using PWIM suitable for Korean language learners and teaching procedures. The researchers rearranged the previous research into three steps: brainstorming and word organization, generalization of semantic and morphological rules of extracted words, and application of words. In the case of PWIM, you can go through all three steps at once. Otherwise, it is possible to divide the three steps of PWIM and teach at different times. It is expected that teachers and learners using the PWIM teaching-learning method, which uses realistic visual materials, will enable making an effective class together.