• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.209-216
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• 2005

The aim of this study is to examine the effects of web-based cyber instruction on EFL learning from the viewpoint of learners` perceptions and needs. Data was collected through a questionnaire survey that was carried out with 709 undergraduate student enrolled in three cyber English courses offered at N university during the secind semester in 2004. The results of the study indicated that the learners exhibited a positive attitude towards web-based cyber instruction and considered it a paper educational method in the cyber age. However, the students perceived that web-based cyber instruction was not greatly satisfactory in terms of cultivating their English communicative competence or improving the language skills they needed. It was also found that cyber instruction was still teacher-dominant, lacking in interaction, which made the students passive recipients of informaton presented. In comparison with off-line instruction, cyber instruction was not particularly better in enhancing their motivation interest or concentration on class. To be more effective, cyber instruction needs to be equipped not only with a large variety of contents and class activities, but also with more exposure to authentic language by native English speakers. The finding of the investigation yield some implications for the design and development of web-based cyber EFL programs.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.267-286
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• 2006

The purpose of the study was to investigate what kinds of learning strategies EFL learners use to learn English grammar and what is benefit from structured grammar input processing. Students of the study consisted of 48 college students who took Practical English Grammar at a university in Kyung-Gi area and were divided into two groups based on grammar scores. The students were asked to take two grammar tasks and grammar tests and complete a survey including questions on grammar strategy and input processing. The results of the study are as follows. First, learners' grammar level has an effect on use of grammar attack strategy including asking teachers, using grammar books and given contexts whereas there was no significant difference between groups in the planning strategies, Among memory strategies, using grammar exercise and linking with already known structure demonstrated a significant difference between groups. Second, with regard to input processing, high level students got higher score on how much they understood the structured grammar input compared with low level students. Third, explicit implicit instruction added to input processing seems more comprehensible and more available than structured input only, Finally, it showed that there is positive relationship between perception and score of input processing tasks and grammar tests. Especially, learners' perception of input processing correlated more with final tests and tasks. Therefore, it suggests that the more input processing task need to develop and utilize in order to facilitate learners' intake.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.193-203
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• 2022

The present study aims to investigate how general education EFL instructors who teach in a higher education institution in Korea perceive mixed-ability classes and the teaching strategies that they utilized to teach learners who have varying English proficiency levels and may have different instructional needs. Twenty instructors at a higher education institution in Korea who teach general education EFL courses participated in a questionnaire and three of the twenty instructors participated in follow-up interviews. The findings from the questionnaire and interviews showed that instructors' experiences teaching mixed-ability classes were positive. They offered clear guidelines for participation to help motivate learners and found that higher level students helped lower level students through group work. The instructors also felt that ESP could be a possibility in mixed-ability classes to meet the learners educational needs.

• Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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• 1997.07a
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• pp.166-175
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• 1997

• Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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• 2002.03a
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• pp.63-71
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• 2002

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.161-175
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• 2011

This paper examines Korean EFL high school students' reader responses on an expository text and a narrative text with the same topic. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether they have different reading models depending on the two genres and whether there are any differences depending on the learners' proficiency levels. The analysis focuses on textual, critical, and aesthetic reading models in the reader responses written in English by science-gifted high school students (N=30). The results show that the participants have different reading models in reading an expository text and a narrative text. They tend to read the expository text in a more critical way while reading the narrative text in a more personal and emotional way. Moreover, regardless of the proficiency levels, they wrote longer responses on the narrative text than the expository text. However, the proficiency level of English does not support any significant differences in the types of reading models. The findings provide Korean EFL high school students' characteristics in L2 reading and suggest the pedagogical implication to pursue linguistic development as well as reading for pleasure.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.27-49
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• 2009

This study aimed to explore EFL learners' beliefs and preferences about reading tasks and to examine the reading processes that they use for making sense of text. The subjects were comprised of 107 college students who were non-English majors and aged 19-28 years. Based on scores achieved on a reading comprehension test, they were divided into two groups (more-skilled and less-skilled readers) and asked to respond to a survey in class. The results of the survey revealed that: (1) a majority rate themselves as fair readers, which might be indicative of the insecurity they feel toward L2 reading; (2) authentic texts (especially magazines) and popular media appear to be their favorite reading materials; (3) unknown vocabulary is a major impediment to their L2 reading comprehension; (4) the more-skilled readers manifest a meaning centered view of reading, whereas the less-skilled readers center on vocabulary; and (5) both groups employ a multistrategic approach to L2 reading; however, the less-skilled readers are less successful in determining the meaning of unknown vocabulary. Pedagogical implications for EFL classroom teachers are provided.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.285-294
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• 2021

Motivated by the mixed results in the previous studies on the relationship between speech production and perception, the current study aims to investigate the relationship between production and perception in depth through a case study on how Korean EFL university students produce and perceive American English vowels. To this end, 19 Korean students at a university located in the Seoul-metropolitan area participated in the production and perception tests on American English vowels to elucidate the precedence relationship and the correlation between production and perception. Results showed that precedence of neither perception nor production was found in the overall result. However, either precedence of perception or production was found for the vowels [ɛ], [α], [ɔ], [u], which implies that the precedence relationship between production and perception varies depending on individual vowels. As for the correlation between production and perception, no correlation was attested between production and perception, suggesting that production and perception skills are not closely linked for these participants. Given that mastering language requires to coordinate two distinct production and perception skills and that L2 learners' preception and production skills become more closely connected as the learners' L2 experience and proficiency increases, no correlation between production and perception attested by the current EFL students implies that the correlation between production and perception varies during the course of foreign language/L2 acquisition in such a way that production and perception skills become increasingly related. Implications of the findings were further discussed and pedagogical suggestions were provided.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2010

In the past, Korean English language learners focused on knowledge of grammatical structures. Thus Korean trained instructors, who focused on explaining the grammar structures, were seen as being preferable for teaching in EFL (English as a foreign language) classrooms. However, with the focus changed to speaking capability Koreans now desire 'fluent' English more than 'accuracy' seeing if possible (Mottos, 1997). Current study has been concerned about the issue of how non-native learners of English perceive the difference between native teachers (NTs) and non-native teachers (non-NTs) of English in the context of ELT classroom. The study explores the issues and problems the followed and how non-NTs can enhance teaching practice of speaking and listening lessons through multimedia application.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.743-752
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• 2016

This study aims to investigate the overall effects of teaching grammar in the Korean EFL classroom. A meta-analysis of 67 research findings in 30 articles was conducted to synthesize the results of these studies by calculating the mean effect sizes. This study reviewed and analyzed the previous studies in terms of subjects, treatment period, and types of grammar teaching. The results showed that teaching grammar in the classroom had beneficial effects on learners in general (d=.907). It was found to be more effective for middle school and university students than for elementary and high school students (Q=37.065, df=3, p=.000). There was no statistically significant difference in terms of treatment period and types of grammar teaching. Pedagogical implications and suggestions for Korean EFL learners are also discussed.