• Title/Summary/Keyword: EFL Learning

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On Mobile Assisted Language Learning (MALL) on English Grammar

  • Sung, Tae-Soo
    • Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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    • v.23 no.9
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    • pp.65-71
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    • 2018
  • Using mobile technology in educational and learning environments has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. In this mobile environment, mobile phones have been used to enhance the effectiveness of education in the field, which has been recognized through numerous experimental studies so far. The study was proposed and conducted to find out how much the use of mobile phones can have to improve the grammatical knowledge of EFL students. Introduction of 95 intermediate courses to Chungnam area The second grade students of 4-year college participated in this study. Everyone in the experimental and control groups was given the opportunity to review and recur to use the six grammar formats, including the current complete tense, simple past tense, direct and indirect question sentences, and comparative and superative-based methods. During the class discussion, the participants of the group record their voice on their cell phones, analyze the mistakes in the expressions recorded as a task after the class, and explain the results in the next session. However, in the class of the control group participants, this recording process is omitted. Participants benefited from mobile learning were much more positive in multidimensional grammar tests than those in control groups.

Investigating Vocabulary Learning Strategies Instruction in Korean Elementary School English Textbooks (초등학교 5학년 영어 교과서 분석: 어휘학습전략 중심으로)

  • Kim, Keumsun;Im, Hee-Joo
    • 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.

Effects on the Use of Two Textbooks for Four Types of Classes in a South Korean University

  • Ramos, Ian Done D.
    • International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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    • v.1 no.2
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    • pp.24-32
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    • 2013
  • This paper determined students' ranks of difficulty on the use of materials in terms of 1) understanding the layout of the learning materials, 2) reading comprehension of the learning materials, and 3) realization on relevance to needs of the learning materials. It also determined students' 4) rank and frequency of attitude on the materials. With the data gathered through 128 survey questionnaires, 7 focused group discussions, and 10 interviews, the results were found out that there was an inappropriate assessment procedure set by this particular university. The researcher concludes that: 1) design of four types of classes by just using the two textbooks with their respective workbooks is grammar-based with limited conversation activities; 2) placement for these students in one big class size was implemented without considering their common interest and motivation and language levels; and, 3) qualification of teachers teaching these EFL students did not support students' real needs and the language program itself. Content professors who were made to teach may have the ability to input learning, but their teaching styles may differ from the ones who are real English teachers. This paper then recommends that teachers and school administration should have an appropriate placement exam before students attend the class, especially in a big class size. There could only be a few problems among students in one big class size when students' level of competence is proportioned. With this, topics and conversation activities can even be more flexible with the maneuver of art of questioning, various dimensions of thinking, strategic competence, learning attitude or behavior, etc. to ensure sustenance of communicative mode and level of interest and motivation in the classroom. Grammar-based instruction can only be taught when a need arises. Thus, the course description of each class will be able to transact the objectives ready for developing students' communication competence. Moreover, proper measurement can be utilized to validly assess the amount of students' learning and the progress of language curriculum design in terms of materials selection and teaching approach.

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An interactive teachable agent system for EFL learners (대화형 Teachable Agent를 이용한 영어말하기학습 시스템)

  • Kyung A Lee;Sun-Bum Lim
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.9 no.3
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    • pp.797-802
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    • 2023
  • In an environment where English is a foreign language, English learners can use AI voice chatbots in English-speaking practice activities to enhance their speaking motivation, provide opportunities for communication practice, and improve their English speaking ability. In this study, we propose a teaching-style AI voice chatbot that can be easily utilized by lower elementary school students and enhance their learning. To apply the Teachable Agent system to language learning, which is an activity based on tense, context, and memory, we proposed a new method of TA by applying the Teachable Agent to reflect the learner's English pronunciation and level and generate the agent's answers according to the learner's errors and implemented a Teachable Agent AI chatbot prototype. We conducted usability evaluations with actual elementary English teachers and elementary school students to demonstrate learning effects. The results of this study can be applied to motivate students who are not interested in learning or elementary school students to voluntarily participate in learning through role-switching.

Effects of Using Gamification-Based Quiz on Recalling Formulaic Sequences (게이미피케이션 기반의 퀴즈 활동이 정형화 배열 회상에 미치는 영향)

  • Lee, Ji-Hyun
    • The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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    • v.8 no.6
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    • pp.589-596
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    • 2022
  • This study aims to investigate the effect of an educational gamification-based quiz on the recall of formulaic sequences (FS). The experiment involved 87 freshmen enrolled in general English classes at a university in Seoul. As material, EFL textbooks based on content from popular franchises, such as the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Twilight, and Harry Potter, were used. The experiment was carried out as follows: first, vocabulary learning, second, reading comprehension, and third, writing. The fourth activity proceeded differently in two groups. The experimental group used gamification-based quiz to practice FS, whereas the comparison group summarized the reading. FS was evaluated using meaning recall and form recall. Consequently, no difference was found between the groups on meaning recall tests of FS, but the experimental group had a significantly higher average score than the comparison group on the post-test on the form recall of FS.

Vocabulary assessment based on construct definition in task-based language learning (과제 중심 학습에서 어휘 능력의 구성요소와 평가)

  • Kim, Yeon-Jin
    • English Language & Literature Teaching
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.123-145
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    • 2006
  • The purpose of this study is to propose an efficient vocabulary assessment model in task-based language learning and to verify the viability of this assessment model. Bachman and Palmer (1996) pointed out the fact that many language tests focus on just one of the areas of language knowledge. However, researchers suggested that it is necessary to acknowledge the needs of several analytic scales, which can provide separate ratings for different components of the language ability to be tested. Although there were many studies which tried to evaluate the various aspects of vocabulary ability, most of them measured only one or two factors. Based on previous research, this study proposed an assessment model of general construct of vocabulary ability and tried to measure vocabulary ability in four separate areas. The subjects were two classes of university level Korean EFL students. They participated in small group discussion via synchronous CMC. One class used a lexically focused task, which was proposed by Kim and Jeong (2006) and the other class used a non-lexically focused task. The results showed that the students with a lexically focused task significantly outperformed those with a non-lexically focused task in overall vocabulary ability as well as four subdivisions of vocabulary ability. In conclusion, the assessment model of separate ratings is a viable measure of vocabulary ability and this can provide elaborate interpretation of vocabulary ability.

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An analysis and teaching of cultural contents in the first-grade High School English textbooks (고등학교 1학년 교과서에 나타난 문화소재 분석과 지도방안)

  • Im, Byung-Bin;Gu, So-Young
    • English Language & Literature Teaching
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.155-177
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    • 2005
  • In the EFL context, Korean students don't have enough opportunities to directly experience the target culture, prompting the need to offer some well-organized culture education in class. The goals of this study are to analyze how many cultural contents are reflected in High School English textbooks and to suggest an implication for cultural learning. These textbooks were carefully examined, focusing on the cultural contents, by four categories: 'cultural skill section', 'cultural patterns', 'related language skills', and 'target countries'. The results of the analysis were like the following: First, although many of the textbooks are dealing with the culture skill sections, their contents were still wanting consistency and were small in quantity. Second, as for the cultural patterns, the pages dealing with behavioral culture were 43%, spiritual culture, 35.7%, material culture, 21.3%. Third, as for the related language skills, the cultural contents in the textbooks were organized in the order of listening, reading, speaking, writing, and cultural skill sections. Since it is impossible to separate language skills from culture, we suggest that the aspects of target culture should be incorporated in various forms into the learning situations. Fourth, as for the issue of target countries, the contents about the general or whole English culture were insufficient. So we suggest that English textbooks should play an essential role in providing students with various cultural information about various English speaking countries.

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Teacher's corrective feedback: Focus on initiations to self-repair (학습자의 오류에 대한 교사의 오류 수정: 학습자 자기 교정 유도를 중심으로)

  • Kim, Young-Eun
    • English Language & Literature Teaching
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    • v.13 no.1
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    • pp.111-131
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    • 2007
  • This study explores teacher's corrective feedback types in an error treatment sequence in Korean EFL classroom setting. Corrective feedback moves are coded as explicit correction, recast, or initiations to self-repair. The frequency and distribution of each corrective feedback type are examined. But the special focus was given on feedback types eliciting learner's self-repair (clarification request, metalinguistic feedback, elicitation, and repetition of error) because initiations to self-repair are believed to facilitate language learning more than other strategies. The results of the study are as follows. First, there was an overwhelming tendency for teacher to use recasts whereas initiations to self-repair were not used as much as recast (52.4% vs. 29.5%). Second, the teacher tended to select feedback types in accordance with error types: namely, recasts after phonological, lexical, and translation errors and initiations to self-repair after grammatical errors though the differences were not significant. Finally, teacher's belief and students' expectation on corrective feedback were compared with actual corrective feedback representations respectively and some mismatches were found. Though both teacher and the students acknowledged the importance and necessity of self-repair, self-repair were not put into practice as such. Therefore, this study suggests more initiations to self-repair be used for effective language learning.

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The Efficacy of Zoom Technology as an Educational Tool for English Reading Comprehension Achievement in EFL Classroom

  • Kim, HyeJeong
    • International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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    • v.8 no.3
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    • pp.198-205
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    • 2020
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of real-time remote video instruction using zoom on learners' English reading achievement. The study also sought to identify the efficiency of zoom video lectures and consider supplementing them by surveying learners' opinions and satisfaction regarding zoom video lectures. To this end, control and experimental groups were set up, and two achievement tests and a questionnaire were conducted. The study's results demonstrated that zoom video lectures have a positive effect on learners' English reading achievement. The questionnaire found that learners are satisfied with zoom video lectures for the following reasons: 'increased interest in and motivation towards learning', 'self-directed learning', 'active interaction', 'ease of access', 'ease of information retrieval'. At the same time, the questionnaire also found that some learners are dissatisfied with zoom video lectures due to 'mechanical errors or defects', 'poor audio quality', and 'the need to add customized functions for efficient classes'. In practice, zoom video lectures must be supplemented with automatic attendance processing, convenient data upload and download, and more efficient video screen management. Given the recent increase in online classes, we, as instructors, must develop teaching activities and/or strategies for video lectures that can encourage active participation by learners.

English teachers' perception of teaching English culture (영미문화 교육에 대한 교사의 인식 연구)

  • Han, Ho;Kim, Hyeon-Okh
    • English Language & Literature Teaching
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    • v.13 no.4
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    • pp.271-292
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    • 2007
  • The purpose of this study is to investigate what English teachers think about what and how to teach culture, as a way of helping students build relevant background knowledge and enhance their motivation in learning English. A total of 300 teachers completed a self-report questionnaire in four areas: (i) their understanding and liking of English-spoken countries, (ii) their use of materials and tools for teaching culture, (iii) their consciousness of teaching culture, and (iv) their needs for culture learning in the teacher-training program. The results show that (i) they think American culture is dominant in EFL but they are much interested in British culture; (ii) they rely on internet most for their cultural experience while they think students get much of the cultural information from textbooks; (iii) they are very much conscious of the importance of teaching culture for improving students' English proficiency; (iv) they want to learn in the teacher training program more about cultural practice, which can be subsumed under the so called 'small c'. The findings suggest that (i) textbooks need to include contents to promote students' cultural awareness and foster intercultural competence, (ii) teachers should use authentic materials with appropriate adaptation, and (iii) a teacher training program should cover a wide range of contents and skills for teaching culture.

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