• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.107-116
• /
• 2020

This paper aims to explore the vocabulary difference between South and North Korean English textbooks as a first step toward a unified vocabulary list. To this end, both South and North Korean English textbooks in 2000s and 2010s are digitized into a corpus of text files, and a vocabulary list is constructed based on the corpus with reference to its concordances for the vocabulary use and contexts using AntConc 3.5.7. The vocabulary list of North Korean English textbooks are compared and found in their differences of quantity and quality of the English vocabulary in English education. Both quantitative and qualitative differences are found in between South and North Korean English textbook corpus. Both South and North aim that students learn about 3,000 words throughout the English education. North Korean English textbook contains more special academic vocabulary while South Korean English textbook is constrained by a strict vocabulary control which does not allow such a flexibility. Differences of vocabulary and their use are caused by the capitalistic market economy of South and the socialists' planned economy of North. Differences are also attributed to the religious words and grammatical vocabulary appearance.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.199-218
• /
• 2011

This study is to explore one of efficient procedures in producing English textbooks for secondary school students. According to a series of changes in the National Curriculum, new textbooks have been selected and used in English classes. Textbooks are one of the fundamental factors in teaching and learning languages together with learners and teachers. So this study emphasizes the significance of textbooks and presents the practical model of producing English textbooks including activity books, from major aspects such as planning, writing, editing, selecting, etc. The current government has made continuing efforts to improve English education development by administrating innovative policies [strategies]. However, there still remain lots of difficulties in this gigantic task, which is not an exception in the matter of textbooks. Therefore, to provide students with better textbooks, the government should not only invest great funds but also renovate the present polluted system of selecting textbooks.