• 영어어문교육
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• 제18권1호
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• pp.153-169
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• 2012

This study reviews an English enhancement course implemented for medical and nursing college students of 2011 to improve their standardized English test scores. A total of 117 first-year students underwent the pre-test and the post-TOEIC in November 2011. After the pre-test, lectures on listening enhancement strategies and problem solving tactics on reading comprehension were supplemented with 4 times of enhancement-tests. Their pre- and post-TOEIC results were compared to see if such enhancement strategies were effective to improve their TOEIC scores. It was further to investigate, through survey questionnaires, how the subjects felt about a number of pre-test-type TOEIC exercise with what-to-listen and how-to-infer listening strategies and pattern-drill practices for reading comprehension. It was found that the scores of listening comprehension improved significantly for both major students whereas reading scores showed slight decrease among nursing majors. It is concluded that administering numerous pre-test-type-TOEIC exercise is effective for students to improve their listening scores supplemented with listening strategies Also, students' response showed positive toward the enhancement course.

• 영어어문교육
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• 제18권1호
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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.

• 말소리와 음성과학
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.13-20
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• 2023

This study explores the potential of automated speech recognition (ASR) in assessing English learners' pronunciation. We employed ASR technology, acknowledged for its impartiality and consistent results, to analyze speech audio files, including synthesized speech, both native-like English and Korean-accented English, and speech recordings from a native English speaker. Through this analysis, we establish baseline values for the word error rate (WER). These were then compared with those obtained for human raters in perception experiments that assessed the speech productions of 30 first-year college students before and after taking a pronunciation course. Our sub-group analyses revealed positive training effects for Whisper, an ASR tool, and human raters, and identified distinct human rater strategies in different assessment aspects, such as proficiency, intelligibility, accuracy, and comprehensibility, that were not observed in ASR. Despite such challenges as recognizing accented speech traits, our findings suggest that digital tools such as ASR can streamline the pronunciation assessment process. With ongoing advancements in ASR technology, its potential as not only an assessment aid but also a self-directed learning tool for pronunciation feedback merits further exploration.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
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• 제16권10호
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• pp.6475-6482
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• 2015

본 연구의 목적은 형태초점 교수법과 오류수정 피드백이 영어 구문 학습에 효과적인지를 살펴보고, 이에 대한 학생들의 반응을 파악하기 위함이다. 연구 참여자들은 필수과목인 영어회화 강좌를 수강하는 8개 분반의 초급수준의 대학교 1학년 학생 122명이다. 이들 여덟 개 분반을 무작위로 세 그룹 즉 시각적 입력강화 집단(TIE group), 출력강화 집단(DICT group)과 통제집단(CG group)으로 나누어 사전 사후 평가 및 설문조사를 실시하였다. SPSS 21.0 for Window 프로그램을 사용하여 형태초점 교수법과 오류수정 피드백의 효과와 학생들의 영어수업에 대한 인식과 태도의 변화를 분석하였다. 연구결과, 본 연구에 활용된 형태초점 교수활동인 입력강화 및 출력강화 활동과 오류수정 피드백 모두가 학생들이 문법형태에 대한 지식을 향상시키는데 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났으며, 실험집단 모두가 형태초점 교수법과 오류수정 피드백에 긍정적인 인식과 태도를 보였고, 실험에 참여한 모든 학생들이 짝 활동(pair work)을 선호하였다. 또한, 통제집단(CG group)을 제외한 대부분의 시각적 입력강화 집단(TIE group)과 출력강화 집단(DICT group) 학생들은 영어수업에 대한 만족과 흥미를 보였던 것으로 나타났다. 이러한 실험 결과에 의거하여, 한국의 EFL 학습 환경에 있는 학생들의 영어 학습에 대한 개인적인 선호도를 고려하여 짝 활동 (pair work)의 형태로 목표문법형태 학습에 적절한 형태초점 교수법을 적용할 것을 제안한다.