• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.65-70
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• 2021

This paper proposes a method for designing a large recording script for open domain English speech synthesis. For read-aloud style text, 12 domains and 294 sub-domains were designed using text contained in five different news media publications. For conversational style text, 4 domains and 36 sub-domains were designed using movie subtitles. The final script consists of 43,013 sentences, 27,085 read-aloud style sentences, and 15,928 conversational style sentences, consisting of 549,683 tokens and 38,356 types. The completed script is analyzed using four criteria: word coverage (type coverage and token coverage), high-frequency vocabulary coverage, phonetic coverage (diphone coverage and triphone coverage), and readability. The type coverage of our script reaches 36.86% despite its low token coverage of 2.97%. The high-frequency vocabulary coverage of the script is 73.82%, and the diphone coverage and triphone coverage of the whole script is 86.70% and 38.92%, respectively. The average readability of whole sentences is 9.03. The results of analysis show that the proposed method is effective in producing a large recording script for English speech synthesis, demonstrating good coverage in terms of unique words, high-frequency vocabulary, phonetic units, and readability.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• no.1
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• pp.1-20
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• 1995

Nowadays in Korea the subject of English education has been rising as one of the essential matters which need to be emphasized, reorganized, and thus refined. From the history of about one century to the current, English education may be compared to an adolescent who should be paid much more attention to grow as an independent adult. Although we recognize that there was much improvement in the past age of English education, a lot of assignments to solve await us. This study aims to suggest a recipe for optimal learning in English classes by linking theory with practice: First, the nation-wide academic associations of English teaching should act more energetically and cooperatively than ever. They need further specialization, dynamic participation, and systematic organization. At the same time the academic journals of their own should be publicized broadly, internationally as well as nationally. Second, there should be close contact and discussion between professors and secondary-school teachers. To achieve better learning in English classes, an effective cycle of equilibrium ought to be maintained by combining theory with practice. For example, language institute in universities/colleges can serve instructional programs such as lectures, colloquiums, and intensive courses for conversation. Third, native speakers of English should be positively utilized. Teachers had better keep close contact with native speakers as frequently as possible if they want to become fluent or at least acceptable speakers in English. Teachers may also use native speakers as aides in their classes.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.109-126
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• 2007

English article has been considered as one of the most difficult areas to learn among ESL/EFL students. The current paper reviews English learners' article error patterns as well as pedagogy in order to teach English articles and to minimize learning difficulties on English articles. Different pedagogy for English articles on the basis of learners' proficiency levels are suggested as each proficiency level student shows a different error tendency; beginning level language learners used the zero article with the most facility while intermediate level language learners used the definite article the most accurately. However, studies about high advanced level learners' error patterns present that these high accuracy rates among beginning level students might be a result of students' plain guessing. Considering these error patterns, pedagogy for advanced level is also suggested.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.8
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• pp.157-165
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of general use of English literary works. It will be helpful for both general English learners and college students majoring English Education in ESL or EFL context. English literature is very useful pedagogical tool in the language class due to its unique valuable characteristics including authenticity, cultural and linguistic value, and personal enrichment, which impact on fostering English ability of EFL students. For this reason, it is unavoidable to develop a theory and practice regarding using English literature as an educational resource for college students in Korea. In this study several considerations will be discussed in terms of selection of the literary works to be applied for language learning purpose in the classrooms of universities in Korea. Such attentions will include fours skills of English such as reading, writing, listening and speaking. Finally, some effects and implications of using literary text as a pedagogical tool in the EFL language classrooms will be discussed.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.19-28
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• 2022

The current study was designed to explore whether taking English pronunciation classes could improve the realization of English rhythm by Korean learners of English. Specifically, this study used various rhythm metrics to examine the extent to which the learners' speech became rhythmically similar to the target language after taking classes that focused on English pronunciation. Sixteen learners who took a 15-week English pronunciation course at a university read an English passage twice (at the beginning and the end of the semester). The rhythm metrics such as Deltas, Varcos, and Pairwise Variability Indices were calculated for the learners' speech, as well as that of 8 native speakers of English. The results demonstrated that the learners' speech was slower, and they put more frequent within-sentence pauses than the native speakers even after the classes. The analyses also indicated that the speech recorded at the beginning of the semester was rhythmically much more different from the target language than at the end of the semester. After the classes, however, the learners' consonantal intervals became much more target-like, while the vocalic intervals were rhythmically even further from those in the target language. Overall, the findings suggested that the pronunciation classes helped the learners to produce English speech that was rhythmically similar to the native speakers.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.77-102
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• 2002

Factors affecting foreign language learning task are diverse in nature due to the different social and cultural backgrounds so that learners have to somehow use strategies and expressions to adjust diverse factors to their learning environments. The main purpose of this paper is to show how important NNS vs. NNs interaction through CCDL can be in their enhancement of English proficiency by giving examples from their chatting conversation(written conversation) data collected for over two semesters. Chatting as a means of synchronous communication interaction between students from two different cultural backgrounds can act as a predictor of foreign language achievement. Chatting and Telemeet activities have their own advantages in enhancing communicative competence when learning English. By engaging in these synchronous communication activities learners of English from different cultural backgrounds can acquire unique strategies and expressions from which they learn from each other. In short, this study advocates the importance of strategies and patterns foreign language learners can acquire from interaction among culturally different peer groups.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.245-259
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate English teachers' perceptions about doing their own action research to find out the benefits of involvement in action research. I believe that teachers should engage in curriculum research and development because it relates to their own classrooms and because a primary aim for teacher education program is to give teachers ways of exploring their own classrooms. I focused on 17 graduate students who had undertaken action research during the fall semester of 2007 and administered a questionnaire about their perceptions of doing action research. The results revealed that their perceptions of doing action research fell into the following two categories, positive and negative aspects. For positive aspects, they experienced a sense of personal and professional growth and they underwent identity transformation from passive, etic-oriented, and uncritical to active, emic-oriented, and critical teachers. However, many of them expressed that major obstacles to doing action research were time constraints and lack of skills or training in conducting action research. Thus, it is suggested that both pre- and in-service teachers should consider conducting a language teaching diary study, doing collaborative action research, and acquiring all the necessary skills for conducting action research.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.115-137
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• 2011

The tourism industry has attained remarkable growth, and the need for professional Tourism English education has increased. Universities of online education can offer an environment for education to both job applicants and laymen who are interested in Tourism English. Tourism English belongs to English for Specific Purposes, which reflects the needs of specific area. The aim of this study is to propose improvements in classes design for online Tourism English instruction. The results of a needs analysis conducted on 160 Korean online university students suggest that online Tourism English class should be different from a traditional classroom-based one in regards to aims, contents, and methods. Online Tourism English class should not only focus on English for specific purposes, but also include more generalized topics. This comes as a result of the diverse backgrounds of online students. The results suggest that extralinguistic elements, such as culture and etiquette differences among English-speaking countries, become more interesting when introduced using pictures, videos, animations, etc. Additionally, SMS or emails can be utilized to raise students' motivation for online Tourism English class.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.496-504
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to guide efficient ways to teach cultural aspects in Korean elementary English education through analyzing many studies on elementary English culture education. In global era, English education must be performed based on understanding of other various cultures for authentic communication. However, Korean elementary students have difficulty to approach or to be exposed to the culture of English speaking countries. Elementary English culture education is neither well organized nor performed for some reasons. The reasons are as follows. Frist, English teachers are not confident with the culture and they consider themselves not having enough experiences and knowledge to teach. They were not taught cultural aspects and the cultural aspects were not emphasized. Second, there are not appropriate culture related teaching materials in the textbooks and teachers' guide books. Therefore, necessary cultural aspects should be selected by English education experts and provided in the textbooks and teachers' guide books. Those two books should be systematically connected. Elementary English teachers should have more opportunities to understand and experience other various cultures. Language is a part of culture and culture is a part of language. Acquiring the second language is acquiring its culture. The culture education for authentic communication is accomplished from managing cultural aspects in textbooks and cultivating English teachers with experience and understanding of target culture.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.589-596
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was (1) to examine the present state of English education for the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics preparations, and (2) to identify the need for an English language training program for international sports events. With these goals in mind, the information was gathered from telephone interviews with educational administration officials who were responsible for international sporting events. For the survey, a total of twenty-six participants responded to a questionnaire designed to gauge their self-perceived English instructional needs for international sporting events. The principal results obtained from this study were: the Pyeongchang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games signed an agreement with an official supplier of language training services. In addition, Gangneung city is providing a 'Global Leaders' Academy' and English programs for taxi drivers and citizens. The result of the survey shows that the majority of participants reported that an English language training program is essential for international sporting events and it should be different from general English language education.