• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.47-54
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• 2023

This study attempted to test the hypothesis that Korean evaluators can score L2 speech appropriately, even when speech rate features are unavailable. Two perception experiments-preliminary and main-were conducted sequentially. The purpose of the preliminary experiment was to categorize English-as-a-foreign-language (EFL) speakers into two groups-advanced learners and lower-level learners-based on the proficiency scores given by five human raters. In the main experiment, a set of stimuli was prepared such that the speech rate of all data tokens was modified to have a uniform speech rate. Ten human evaluators were asked to score the stimulus tokens on a 5-point scale. These scores were statistically analyzed to determine whether there was a significant difference in utterance production between the two groups. The results of the preliminary experiment confirm that higher-proficiency learners speak faster than lower-proficiency learners. The results of the main experiment indicate that under controlled speech-rate conditions, human raters can appropriately assess learner proficiency, probably thanks to the linguistic features that the raters considered during the evaluation process.

• Educational Technology International
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.141-166
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of using visual stimulation and gesture, namely embodied language learning, on learning achievement and learner's course interest in the EFL classroom. To investigate the effectiveness of the proposed purpose, thirty two third-grade elementary school students participated and were assigned into four English learning class conditions (i.e., using animated graphic and gestures condition, using only animated graphic condition, using still pictures and gesture condition, and control condition). The research questions for this study are addressed below: (1) What differences are there in post and delayed learning achievement between imitating gesture group and non-imitating one and between animated graphic group and still picture one? (2) What differences are there in course interest between imitating gesture group and non-imitating one and between animated graphic group and still picture one? The Embodiment-based English learning system for this study was designed by using Microsoft's Kinect sensing devices. The results of this study revealed that students of imitating gesture group memorized and retained better words and sentence structure than those of the other groups. As for learner's course interest measurement, imitating gesture group showed a highly positive response to attention, relevance, and satisfaction for curriculum and using animated graphic influenced satisfaction as well. This finding can be attributed to the embodied cognition, which proposes that the body and the mind are inseparable in the constitution of cognition and thus students using visual simulation and imitating related gesture regard the embodied language learning approach more satisfactory and acceptable than the conventional ones.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.143-149
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• 2024

The role of social networking mobile applications such as WhatsApp in enhancing second language vocabulary learning among English language learners continues to be a subject of interest for many scholars. The current study aimed at examining medical English vocabulary learning among undergraduate students using WhatsApp compared to learning vocabulary via the Blackboard platform during the Covid-19 pandemic. To this end, 108 medical students (51 males, 57 females) enrolled in a first semester English for a specific English course participated in the study. A quasi-experimental design was adopted for two groups. Fifty-three students participated in the WhatsApp group and 55 students formed the Blackboard group. A pretest-posttest design was employed to collect data. Results of t-test scores did not show a significant difference between the WhatsApp and Blackboard groups on a vocabulary test. Results of a survey that measured students' opinion of the use of WhatsApp as a platform for learning new vocabulary showed positive perceptions since participants thought that WhatsApp enhanced their learning experience.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.8 no.10
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• pp.373-380
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• 2008

The purpose of this study is to investigate how Korean EFL university students acquire an understanding of English tenses. To research this, we proposed two research questions of study as below. Firstly, what difference is there in English tense acquisition between an experimental group and a control group? Secondly, what difference is there in the English tense acquisition according to English proficiency? The subject of a sample survey was a 39 student experimental group and a 38 student control group, total 77 students, who take English courses as a required subject at 'C' university in Gwangju. The data needed for this study was obtained by the questionnaires with 40 questions about the English tense. The data analyzing method was t-test through the statistics program SPSS 12.0. There was a significant difference between the experimental group's tense acquisition ability and the control group's, even though low group showed no significant improvement in their tense acquisition ability. Studying English tense through reading led the students to be present in classes with interests, so the experimental group showed more academic accomplishments than the control group.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2014

As vocabulary acquisition has become one of the emerging key issues in the foreign language education field, interest in vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) has also increased. However, little has been done to investigate the vocabulary learning strategies of young learners. Therefore, this study attempts to investigate VLS use in elementary school English language textbooks. A total of three fifth grade English textbooks and teachers' guidebooks were chosen and analyzed with the vocabulary learning strategies taxonomy suggested by Scbmitt (1997). The researcher identified there were only a limited number of vocabulary learning strategies in the textbooks and most of them were consolidation strategies. It was concluded that a variety of VLS should be introduced in multiple ways in consideration of learner preference, styles, culture and level of English proficiency. Some implications for the teaching and learning of vocabulary for EFL instruction amongst young learners are discussed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.8
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• pp.528-541
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• 2014

The purpose of this study is to analyze Yun Chi-ho's English Diary both quantitatively and qualitatively. A corpus of 574 diary texts is created from his first and last years in an English speaking environment, and analyzed by two language analysis programs, RANGE and Coh-Metrix. His later diaries have more words in total, and longer average sentence length than his earlier diaries. Also, the Coh-Metrix indices in syntactic complexity and referential cohesion are higher in his later diaries. A qualitative analysis of 57 diary texts shows some improvement in his use of language forms. The most frequent topics of his journals are Christianity, everyday life, politics of Korea and his English studies. His constant effort to keep his journal and correspondence with foreigners, almost all in English, is estimated as one of the key factors for his successful English acquisition. Educational implications for EFL writing courses are discussed.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.7 no.9
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• pp.231-239
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• 2007

The purpose of this study is to research the process of Korean university students' acquiring the subjunctive mood. To research this, we will propose three subjects of study as below. First, what correlations exist between the general English ability and the English subjunctive mood acquisition? Second what difference is there in English subjunctive mood acquisition to gender? Third, what difference is there in the English subjunctive mood acquisition according to English proficiency? The subject of a sample survey was 36 female and 37 male students, 73 students in total, who take English courses as a required subject at 'C' university in Gwangju. The necessary data for this study was obtained by the questionnaires with 40 questions about the subjunctive mood. The data analyzing method was ANOVA(analysis of variance between groups) through the statistics program SPSS 12.0. When the results of the questions were analysed, there was no significant difference in the English subjunctive mood acquisition according to gender, but according to English proficiency, the English subjunctive mood acquisition was different: advanced-, intermediate- and low group.

• Journal of Multimedia Information System
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.163-170
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• 2018

We developed a multicast communication packet radio protocol using a time-sharing tablet system ("wireless token ring") to achieve the efficient exchange of files among packet radio terminals attached to swans. This paper provides an overview of the system and the protocol of the packet communications. The packet device forming the main part of the transceiver developed is the Texas Instruments CC2500. This device consists of one call-up channel and one data transmission channel and could improve error frame correction using FEC (forward error correction) with 34.8 kbps MSK and receiving power of at least -64 dBm (output 1 dBm at distance of 200 m using 3 dBi antenna). A time-sharing framework was determined for the wireless token ring using call sign ordinals to prevent transmission right loss. Tests using eight stations showed that resend requests with the ARQ (automatic repeat request) system are more frequent for a receiving power supply of -62 dBm or less. A wireless token ring system with fixed transmission times is more effective. This communication protocol is useful in cases in which frequency resources are limited; the energy consumed is not dependent on the transmission environment (preset transmission times); multiple terminals are concentrated in a small area; and information (position data and vital data) is shared among terminals under circumstances in which direct communication between a terminal and the center is not possible. The method allows epidemiological predictions of avian influenza infection routes based on vital data and relationships among individual birds based on the network topology recorded by individual terminals. This communication protocol is also expected to have applications in the formation of multiple in vivo micromachines or terminals that are inserted into living organisms.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.15 no.10
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• pp.183-190
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• 2010

The present study attempted to identify the metacognitive strategies used by L2 writers at the university level as well as their particular aspects which might influence the use of these strategies. Twenty-seven participants, all of whom were enrolled in an English course, were asked to write an expository essay and then complete a questionnaire which includes their beliefs and attitudes toward L2 writing experience and the metacognitive strategies during the writing process. It was found that even though inexpert writers knew and employed as many strategies as the expert counterparts did, they were unsuccessful in the quality of their texts. Simply possessing a repertoire of metacognitive strategies was not enough for successful L2 writing. The failure of the inexpert writers to apply these metacognitive strategies in an effective manner was influenced by affective factors such as anxiety, self-confidence, self-concept, etc. As a result of this study, a pedagogical implication is suggested.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.37-45
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to understand language learning strategies use, language learning beliefs, and listening achievement of Korean EFL learners. The participants was sixty-nine university students who enrolled in blended learning classes for English listening. Data was collected and analyzed to see if there were any differences in strategies and beliefs between students who improved their listening test score and those who did not. The results showed that students showing improvement at the post-test used more language learning strategies and had a high level of motivation. Statistically significant correlation was found between motivation and strategies such as cognitive and meta-cognitive strategies.