• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.12-17
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• 2023

This study investigates the effects of online English writing instruction on university students' writing performance and their anxiety. A total of 34 participants completed the pre- and post- writing tests as well as the surveys regarding perceived anxiety toward English writing. Reflection papers and interviews were employed to triangulate the results of the questionnaires. Quantitative analysis of learners' writing outcomes and surveys revealed that online writing instruction helped improve students' writing skills and reduce writing anxiety. The interviews and reflection papers demonstrated that learners found the writing instruction helpful in reducing somatic anxiety, avoidance behavior, and cognitive anxiety. The current study suggests that adopting non-face-to-face online writing instruction aids EFL students in developing their writing and alleviating writing anxiety.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.237-254
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• 2011

This study investigated Korean university students' perceptions of NESTs (Native English Speaking Teachers) and NNESTs (Non-native English Speaking Teachers) in TEE (Teaching English through English) courses to examine strengths and weaknesses of NESTs and NNESTs. 100 university students who had an experience in taking TEE courses with both NESTs and NNESTs answered the questionnaire in which they were asked to answer questions of general area, language skills, affective areas, and teaching behaviors. 20 students out of them were also interviewed to consolidate the data. The results revealed that except for speaking ability, students did not express a strong preference for NESTs and they did have a preference in learning some specific skills. In terms of affective areas, students had a preference for NNESTs. In addition, there were differences in teaching behaviors of NESTs and NNESTs. These findings have valuable implications for NNESTs to improve their speaking proficiency: analyzing and participating in discourses, and monitoring teaching practice through videotaping.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2023

Since developing digital technology requires new skills in digital literacy, digital competence also has become a keystone in English classes. This study explores three aspects of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners' digital confidence: information and data literacy, communication and collaboration, and digital content creation, based on the European Digital Competence Framework for Citizens (DigComp). The participants were 150 Korean college students enrolled in two general English classes, and their English proficiency levels were from basic to advanced; each level consisted of 30 participants. In order to assess their digital confidence, I designed a Google survey form and collected data during two semesters. The survey results revealed that the participants had highest digital confidence in information and data literacy and overall, the female participants showed higher digital confidence than their male counterparts. It also showed that the learners' English proficiency and computer skills are important factors.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.229-236
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• 2022

This study investigates the impact of flipped classroom strategy in developing students' achievement and acquisition of life skills. The study employed a quasi-experimental design where students were divided into two groups: an experimental (N=22) and a control (N=22). The randomly selected and assigned sample consisted of sixth-year elementary school students studying English as a basic course. The findings revealed statistically significant differences between the two group's means in both achievement and life skills tests in favor of the experimental group. Students of the experimental group who studied using the flipped classroom strategy outperformed the control group who studied in the standard way in achieving the English language and in the life situations test, where the effect size of the use of the strategy was large in both dependent variables. The study is concluded with some recommendations to facilitate the use of flipped classroom strategy for EFL teachers. This can be achieved by training teachers on using the strategy and providing technological resources at schools to implement the strategy efficiently.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.253-276
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to compare and analyze the aspects of task-based materials in high school English textbooks for first year students in Korea. Based on the theoretical backgrounds for designing communicative tasks and the basic contents of the 7th national curriculum for English, a total of six different qualitative evaluation categories of task-based materials are constructed. The six categories include input data, settings, activity types, language skills, activity themes, and communicative functions. The results of the data analysis showed that the regulations of the 7th national English curriculum, which were aimed at improving the students' communicative abilities, were properly reflected in the materials of task-based activities of all textbooks. On the other hand, a few problems were found in some textbooks: too many individual tasks; being out of proportion in presenting task types and themes; non-systematic introduction of language skills, etc. To conclude, a few suggestions are made to provide some meaningful considerations for the text material developers in order to produce better textbooks in the future: task goals and rationale that encourage the learner's positive motivation; authenticity of input data based on the real-world context; a collaborative learning environment that enhances communicative interaction; a proportional representation of the various activity types including creative problem-solving procedures; systematic introduction of integrated language skills, etc.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.564-568
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• 2020

Problem-based learning (PBL) is applied to various subjects for the sake of learners' creative thinking, problem-solving skills, presentation skills, confidence, self-directed learning, cooperation, and for the communication skills required in a rapidly changing society. Among them, the English language-an official language-is invested in 2.3 times more than other subjects, according to the English education company Yoon's Teacher. Therefore, PBL is an important learning method. However, the reality is that teacher-centered instruction, acquiring knowledge of the best answers only, and traditional evaluations are the main subjects. In order to supplement these weak points, this study designed a learning model for English subjects based on Barrows & Myers (2002) and the analyze, design, develop, implement, and evaluate (ADDIE) model. As a result of a PBL English class based on the ADDIE model, the learners were able to improve their presentation skills by 86%, their interest in learning by 86%, their understanding of learning by 86%, and cooperation by 100%. As such, studies on designing the learning model should be carried out continuously to achieve the purpose of 21st century English education, which is to improve learners' communication skills and information processing skills.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.17-33
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• 2003

College going students who are non-native speakers of English enrolled in English language programmes are not acquiring the needed academic writing skills. Many of these students do not have positive attitudes towards writing, thus forcing language instructors to look for ways of motivating students to write in order to improve writing skills. This action research project investigates the use of portfolio writing to improve writing ability among pre-university students. Research on the use of portfolio writing suggests that it is a useful way for developing interest in writing and for developing effective writing skills over a period of time. Portfolios support the best thinking in composition pedagogy in that it encourages process writing. Although the portfolio is considered a writing product, as a whole it is evidence of the students writing process. An important feature in using portfolios is that students are able to focus on their writing without constantly worrying about grades. Instructors have noticed that students make greater improvement in their writing when their focus is shifted from punitive feedback through letter grades to constructive feedback in the form of suggestions for further revision. This paper describes the use of writing portfolios as an effective means of teaching writing. The findings revealed that writing portfolios helped develop confidence in writing and decreased anxiety towards writing. (217 words)

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.961-972
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to investigate the improvement of English proficiency of children in the ESL and EFL learning style classrooms through the experiment method. The results of this research are as follows: first, the scores of listening and speaking and the perception of alphabets in the ESL program are higher than that in the EFL program. This means that learning in the ESL style classroom is the better way to improve English skills than in the EFL style classroom, which is common in Korea. Second, there is no difference in the English listening and speaking skills and the perception of the English alphabets between the two gender groups in the ESL & EFL style classrooms. These results suggest that the target language may be used in the English classrooms by the teachers and the students with the materials, books, and equipment are English. Teachers are expected to be in charge of playing decisive roles as demonstrators of speech, models and correctors of pronunciation and providers of materials including TV, VCR, CD players, and cassette recorders, etc.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.103-129
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• 2006

This paper presents a case study of the effectiveness of debate class in promoting speaking skills of advanced learners. The researcher adopted English debate techniques in an English speaking class during four-week teacher training program and investigated how teachers responded to the new technique. Forty-five middle and high school teachers participated in the study and classroom observation, pre-survey, post-survey, and focus group interviews were used as the major research methods. The teacher pre-survey results presented that teachers prefer a conversation class where they can directly acquire proper sentence patterns and speaking strategies rather than spend time in performing communicative events. The results of the focus group interview and post-survey confirmed that a debate class can meet this specific teachers' needs. Most teachers responded positively to the debate classes since: 1) debate techniques are relatively new ideas to Korean teachers; 2) debate techniques require speed and accuracy in speech; thus teachers could learn to present their ideas logically and efficiently in a limited time through repeated argument exercises. The study result implies that debate technique can be an effective vehicle in an EFL context to promote advanced learners' logical thinking skills and logical English sentence structures.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.7
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• pp.541-549
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• 2014

This study aims to propose measures to support students' English literacy development in collaboration with public libraries in the community. The literature review shows that students can improve their English literacy skills by not only reading authentic books, but also participating in English literacy programs at the public library. The analysis of the gathered data reveals that public libraries provide extensive programs customized to students' needs. It is also shown that reading programs at the public libraries play an important role in improving students' literacy skills. With the analysis of the literacy programs at various libraries nationwide or abroad, we can understand the importance of the English literacy programs. Especially English Literacy programs in public libraries can be more effective to improve students' English literacy skills. It is suggested that we need to support children's literacy development in collaboration with public libraries in the community.