• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.185-210
• /
• 2006

This study has two purposes. First, it aims to suggest an appropriate approach to English writing education for Korean high school students in a cooperative learning situation. It also aims to suggest what type of learner grouping, either homogeneous or heterogeneous, is appropriate by comparing the learners' writing abilities and the changes of their affective factors after being exposed to cooperative EFL writing instruction. Two homogeneous classes were selected and instructed to write in English for 11 weeks. One was composed of homogeneous small groups based on the students' writing scores, and the other was composed of heterogeneous small groups, again based on the students' writing scores. The results showed that the improvement between the two class types was quite different across different proficiency levels. For example, although there is little difference between the homogeneous and the heterogeneous classes of low and intermediate-level learners in writing ability improvement, high-level students showed a significant difference between the classes. In addition, it was found that class participation correlated significantly to writing ability improvement. Cooperative learning was proved to be an effective writing instructional approach to encourage learners' interest and increase their self-confidence; however, the results did not show any significant differences in learners' affective domain between the homogeneous and the heterogeneous classes. Similarly, the learners' grouping preference was not affected by the grouping method.

• The Journal of the Institute of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
• /
• v.16 no.5
• /
• pp.13-20
• /
• 2016

This study explores the effects of an video-recording English speaking task model on learners. The learning model, a form of mobile learning, was developed to facilitate the learners' output practice applying advantages of a smartphone and Text-to Speech. The survey results shows the positive effects of the speaking task on the domain of pronunciation, speaking, listening, writing in terms of students' confidence, as well as general English ability. The study further examines the possibilities and limitations of the speaking task in assisting Korean learners improve their speaking ability, who do not have sufficient exposure to English input or output practice due to the situational limitations where English is learned as a foreign language.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.7 no.3
• /
• pp.71-75
• /
• 2016

The English language listening environment in Korea nowadays is situated in a quiet and artificial state rather than one of natural exposure. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effectiveness of convergence for pronunciation and listening activities using English advertisements. A survey sample of 40 students was chosen for this study. These 40 students successfully answered the questionnaire and took a 3 hour English course as an elective. Pre and post surveys tests were done for listening ability and learning interests. For the listening tests, TOEIC L.C. test were used and survey questions about interests made by Sunhee Park were revised to be proper used. The results of this study show a positive impact on TOEIC listening ability and that students are able to listen and naturally pronounce more successfully through convergence using English advertisements with higher learning motivation.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
• /
• v.10 no.4
• /
• pp.73-80
• /
• 2019

The purpose of this study was to examine how flipped learning strategy affects learners' self-regulating ability in both general English and Spanish, based on the study hypothesis that self-regulating learning ability of general English learners will make a meaningful difference in comparison to that of traditional learning. The study was also focused on how flipped learning was related to learners' self-regulating ability. From September 10, 2018 to December 10, 2018, a total of 81 students in general English and Spanish were surveyed in which three sub areas of self-regulating learning (cognitive, motivational, and behavioral control) were considered, and which were divided into six sub-domains, a total of 65 items were composed. Although not very significant results were shown in the case of motivational control, both English and Spanish classes have statistically significant differences in cognitive and behavioral self-regulating learning abilities.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
• /
• v.13 no.6
• /
• pp.188-194
• /
• 2010

This paper deals with a teaching method in EMI(English Medium Instructor) Education for engineering major subjects which is accomplished between non-native english speaking professors and students. Goals of EMI in non-english speaking countries will be both a improvement of communication ability and understanding of the major subjects. However, when students who have a low level-english ability participate in english class, it is necessary to analyze whether they can obtain above goals or not and to study on a teaching method for them. The english classes were aimed at students at the college of engineering who have 200-420 TOEIC average score. The research was proceeded by course evaluations to three direct EMI and surveys that were performed targeting all students participated in english class. The proposed research results may lead to development of EMI for students who have a low level- english ability and give them a better understanding and interest of major subjects.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.35-50
• /
• 2005

Thirty six EFL freshman students at the College of Languages and Translation, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia were given a dictation, a listening comprehension test and a decoding test. The purpose of the study was to find out whether EFL freshmen students' spelling ability correlates with their listening comprehension and decoding skills. Data analysis showed that the typical EFL freshman student misspelled 41.5% of the words on the dictation, gave 49.5% correct responses on the listening comprehension test, and 52% correct responses on the decoding test. The median and mean scores showed that the subjects' spelling, listening and decoding achievement is low, which implied that the subjects were having spelling, listening comprehension and decoding difficulties. The students' spelling errors and correct listening comprehension and decoding responses revealed strong correlations between spelling ability, listening comprehension and decoding skills. This means that good spelling ability in EFL is related to good listening comprehension and good decoding skills. The better the listening comprehension and decoding abilities, the fewer the spelling errors. When listening comprehension and decoding skills are poor, spelling ability is also poor. Recommendations for spelling, listening and decoding instruction are given.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.56-63
• /
• 2021

The aim of this study is to understand how English textbooks in Korea and Japan reflect English education policies for improving the English language learners' cultural ability. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, the method of analyzing English textbooks was used because English textbooks are an important tool that most specifically reflects the English policy of a country. This study analyzed a total of six English textbooks, three middle school English textbooks currently used in Korea and three in Japan. We analyzed nouns/pronouns related to culture presented in the reading section included in each unit, and compared cultural diversity and cultural identity included in English textbooks in Korea and Japan. As a result, it was found that both countries experienced cultural diversity through English education and introduced their cultural pride to Western culture to realize the goal of strengthening global capabilities. This textbook analysis results show that English textbooks of Korea and Japan depend on American/British cultures and norms. The cultural contents of English textbooks in Korea and Japan tend to focus on geography, food and drink, festivals and activities, family and education systems, etc. And English textbooks in Korea and Japan include the cultural sections in each lesson, but they don't suggest how to relate these cultural sections into the learners' real experiences. These results can be utilized as the motives from which both countries develop English education policy and textbooks in the future.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.67-89
• /
• 2005

Writing is a difficult skill for many people, both for children and adult alike and generally most people find it difficult to write down their thoughts effectively. Numerous studies have revealed that teachers find it frustrating to teach writing and many failed to help ESL students develop their writing ability. The theoretical emphasis on process oriented writing instruction has, in general brought about positive changes in the way writing is taught and has become widely accepted in the teaching of English as a second or foreign language (ESL/EFL). Although the interpretation and implementation of the process approach varies considerably from instructor to instructor, nevertheless, the emphasis on process writing has brought about significant and beneficial changes in teachers' orientations to writing. Despite the theoretical recognition of writing as a recursive process, many ESL/EFL classrooms continue to teach writing as a linear sequence of planning, pre-writing, writing, revising and editing and has not enhanced ESL/EFL students writing ability to the desired level. There appears to be a missing link in helping students to crystallize their thoughts before writing. Studies have shown that incorporating visual thinking tools into the process approach of ESL writing can enhance students' ability to write. This paper reports the findings of an exploratory study on the effects of using visual thinking tools in enhancing ESL students writing.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.129-153
• /
• 2007

When English language teachers are deciding on their priorities for teaching pronunciation, it is imperative to know what kind of differences and errors are most likely to interfere with communication, and what special problems particular first-language speakers will have with English pronunciation. In other words, phoneme discrimination skill is an integral part of speech processing for the EFL learners' learning to converse in English. Training using sound visualization technique can be effective in improving second language learners' perceptions and productions of segmental and suprasegmental speech contrasts. This study assessed the efficacy of a pronunciation training that provided visual feedback for EFL learners acquiring pitch and durational contrasts to produce and perceive English phonemic distinctions. The subjects' ability to produce and to perceive novel English words was tested in two contexts before and after training; words in isolation and words in sentences. In comparison with an untrained control group, trainees showed improved perceptual and productive performance, transferred their knowledge to new contexts, and maintained their improvement three months after training. These findings support the feasibility of learner-centered programs using sound visualization technique for English language pronunciation instruction.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.123-145
• /
• 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.