• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.69-89
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• 2012

This paper explored the effects of extensive reading (ER) on Korean university students' L2 reading proficiency and reading rates. This study also illustrated how ER can be integrated into a university English reading class. Seventeen students who took a summer reading course participated in this study. Data were gathered through pre- and post- tests in terms of participants' reading comprehension proficiency and reading rates and post- questionnaire with regard to their attitudes toward L2 storybook reading after they have experienced it. The analysis was carried out using the Paired Samples t-test. It was revealed that ER has a positive effect on the enhancement of the participants' reading comprehension and reading rates. The participants showed their continued intention to read in English and a strong belief that persistent reading in English in the long run will help improve their English. The results of this study confirm the educational values of incorporating ER into university English reading classes. The pedagogical implications for EFL instructors are described.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.365-395
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• 2010

This study explores the effect of extensive reading(ER) implemented in middle and high schools in Korean EFL context. Two middle school English teachers and two high school English teachers participated in implementing ER in their classes. Six middle school classes of 239 students and seven high school classes of 268 students participated in ER program guided by the above four teachers. To implement ER, participating teachers had continuously been guided by the researcher about the theoretic reasoning of ER and practical methods for efficient ER in class. The study lasted for two semesters and the teachers and students were surveyed and interviewed during and after the classes. The result showed pretty positive improvement of students' self-confidence, interest and motivation about English through ER implemented in this study. It is hoped that this study would show the possibility of implementing ER in Korean EFL secondary school context and a model for ER and cooperation between university researchers and in-service English teachers.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.177-182
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• 2020

In the age of technology and information, communicating with people from different cultures is significantly important. Regarding this perspective, communicative competence has been the focus in the EFL educational context. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of using movies in a culture-integrated English reading course at the college level. In order to achieve this purpose, pre- and post-reading comprehension tests, pre- and post-surveys and in-depth interviews were conducted. The results of data analysis showed that using movies in the culture-integrated English reading class positively affected students' interest and confidence towards English reading as well as their reading achievement. In this respect, we suggest that cultural teaching through movies in English classes should be learner-centered so that learners can proactively analyze and understand different cultural backgrounds shown in the movies and build schemas which can be used in their learning process.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.284-290
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• 2021

This study aimed to identify the efficiency of online non-face-to-face English classes to propose possibilities for expanding these types of classes in a sustainable way even in the post-COVID era. Moreover, the study suggests pedagogical implications for the directions that should be further explored for online non-face-to-face English classes. To this end, the study employed an online non-face-to-face English reading class using Zoom and investigated the effects of online teaching on college students' reading comprehension via two achievement tests. The study also analyzed learners' satisfaction or dissatisfaction with this online non-face-to-face English reading class (and their reasons) through a questionnaire. Ultimately, the study found that online non-face-to-face English reading classes have a positive effect on learners' reading comprehension learning. In addition, the reasons for learners' satisfaction with online non-face-to-face classes include systematic class progress, class quality, and efficiency of learning. Instructors must be aware of the need to expand online non-face-to-face classes, for which they will have to be thoroughly prepared in advance. Instructors will also need to implement efficient online class activities, organize classes systematically with detailed explanations, and provide quick and useful feedback.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.49-55
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• 2019

In the age of information, newly produced knowledge is mostly written in English. Therefore, there has been a strong demand for English language learning in the EFL context. However, most EFL learners possess a lack of interest and motivation in the text-based reading class. In this educational context, film is one of the most widely used materials in English reading classes considering that modern learners are predominantly familiar with various audiovisual materials. The purpose of this study is to investigate how Korean EFL learners experienced in the film-based reading class. Specifically, this study aims to analyze the EFL students' perceptions about the class and learning strategies that they used during the class. In order to comprehensively interpret the EFL learners' experiences in the classroom, a coding system consisting of five categories was developed: report, emotion, reflection, evaluation, future plans. The results of data analysis showed that the use of movies in English reading classes had positive effects on reading comprehension and inference of word meaning. The most frequently used learning strategies were affective strategies which helped them control their emotion, attitude, motivations and values, whereas memorization strategies were rarely used. In this respect, this study suggests that the use of movies in the EFL reading classroom encourage students' attention and help them obtain and activate schema which is useful in gaining a better understanding of text-based reading materials.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.45
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• pp.55-83
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• 2016

To provide a set of data with which instructors may boost the sagging demand for Anglo-American poetry classes, this thesis classifies the kinds of difficulties the students face in reading English poems. Asses to the classification is an analysis on the causes of the difficulties at different levels of the reading process, from the linguistic to the cultural. Arnoldian insight argues that poetry is the best of all forms of writing. Without an ample exposure to poetry, average English majors would barely sharpen the skills that they use to deal with other kinds of writing. To help ease the continuing need for a workable teaching model in English poetry reading classes, this thesis suggests focusing on the kinds of wrong translations produced by the students. According to the theory of cultural translation, any translation, even the wrong kind, is already a product of a very complicated process of interpretation that involves many cultural factors. With the analysis of these factors discovered in Korean college English reading classes, this thesis tries to explain the mechanisms through which wrong translations are produced, since these inevitably lead to wrong interpretations of given poetic texts.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.159-180
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• 2007

The present study proposes a set of activities of teaching English reading through English newspapers to narrow the gap between the English required in authentic situation and the one taught in schools. Newspapers can provide students with opportunities to review what they have studied in the classes. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to investigate how extra-curricular activities using English newspapers have an influence on the development of the three low-achieving high school students' English reading ability. The five-month study yielded that the activities using English newspapers exerted positive effects on the students' interest in English and their English scores. It suggests that using English newspapers as teaching materials may be a desirable way both to motivate students to study English harder and to develop their English reading ability.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• no.4
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• pp.85-116
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• 1998

Since the 1980's language teachers have been urged to take more communicatively oriented practice instead of traditional audio-lingual and grammar-translation instruction. However, there are many reasons why communication-centered teaching approaches haven't been easily adopted in Korea. First of all many English teachers haven't been prepared for communicative language teaching. And class size is very large. Another reason is that students' reading and writing skills are more important than their speaking and listening skills to enter colleges. But the world has been changing rapidly. We have many chances to meet foreigners and to talk to them. So many students want to improve their communicative proficiency. The purpose of this study is how to improve their communicative proficiency by performing games in English classes. There are many advantages of using games and songs in the classroom. First, games are motivating and challenging. Second, students can improve their four skills(speaking, writing, listening and reading skills) by using games and songs. Thirdly, games and songs help students to study English without their conscious efforts and to practice English repeatedly because they are interested in them. Fourthly, games and songs create a meaningful context for language use. Lastly, students can learn English with less tension and anxiety. Therefore, English games and songs are worthy of using in classes. To use English games and song more effectively, more various and useful materials have to be developed for English teachers and have to be introduced pertinently into classes.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.183-206
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate whether using English newspapers as supplementary teaching materials for the present textbook could increase students' English reading ability, interest in class and their willingness to take an active part in activities. Schools in rural areas, compared to urban schools, did not have the appropriate resources to teach students effectively. Understanding the disadvantages of the students in rural areas, one idea was to use newspapers to inspire the students to reach outside their local community and incorporate new styles of English and cultural aspects into their lives. The participants were 2nd grade high school students in the rural area. The experimental group received reading lessons with the textbook and English newspapers. They were also encouraged to make their own portfolios. The control group received reading lessons with the textbook and other supplementary materials. Before and after the experiment, reading comprehension tests as well as the questionnaires of interest and self-directed learning were administered. The results of this study were as follows: First, students' English reading ability was significantly improved in the experimental class using English newspapers. Second, students' interest and self-directed learning were positively increased in the same class above.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.79-98
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• 2006

As one way of changing a teacher-fronted, grammar-based reading class into a meaningful, fun-creating one, this paper compared teacher- fronted reading with student-centered reading framed upon cooperative learning. In a study in which each type of reading method was conducted for college students in an EFL reading course for a period of one semester, data were gathered via questionnaires. The results showed that though each type of reading instruction came with its own strengths and weaknesses, student-centered reading instruction was preferred for various reasons. Most important, through an active participation in cooperative work, subjects were motivated and interested in L2 reading much, were exposed to various reading strategies and skills, and practiced them in a friendly, low-anxiety learning climate.