• Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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• 1997.07a
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• pp.176-178
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• 1997

To make a long story short I made up my mind to experiment with a multimedia approach to my classroom presentations two years ago because my ways of giving instructions bored the pants off me as well as my students. My favorite ways used to be sometimes referred to as classical or traditional ones, heavily dependent on the three elements: teacher's mouth, books, and chalk. Some call it the 'MBC method'. To top it off, I tried audio-visuals such as tape recorders, cassette players, VTR, pictures, and you name it, that could help improve my teaching method. And yet I have been unhappy about the results by a trial and error approach. I was determined to look for a better way that would ensure my satisfaction in the first place. What really turned me on was a multimedia CD ROM title, ELLIS (English Language Learning Instructional Systems) developed by Dr. Frank Otto. This is an integrated system of learning English based on advanced computer technology. Inspired by the utility and potential of such a multimedia system for regular classroom or lab instructions, I designed a simple but practical multimedia language learning laboratory in 1994 for the first time in Korea(perhaps for the first time in the world). It was high time that the conventional type of language laboratory(audio-passive) at Hahnnam be replaced because of wear and tear. Prior to this development, in 1991, I put a first CALL(Computer Assisted Language Learning) laboratory equipped with 35 personal computers(286), where students were encouraged to practise English typing, word processing and study English grammar, English vocabulary, and English composition. The first multimedia language learning laboratory was composed of 1) a multimedia personal computer(486DX2 then, now 586), 2) VGA multipliers that enable simultaneous viewing of the screen at control of the instructor, 3) an amplifIer, 4) loud speakers, 5)student monitors, 6) student tables to seat three students(a monitor for two students is more realistic, though), 7) student chairs, 8) an instructor table, and 9) cables. It was augmented later with an Internet hookup. The beauty of this type of multimedia language learning laboratory is the economy of furnishing and maintaining it. There is no need of darkening the facilities, which is a must when an LCD/beam projector is preferred in the laboratory. It is headset free, which proved to make students exasperated when worn more than- twenty minutes. In the previous semester I taught three different subjects: Freshman English Lab, English Phonetics, and Listening Comprehension Intermediate. I used CD ROM titles like ELLIS, Master Pronunciation, English Tripple Play Plus, English Arcade, Living Books, Q-Steps, English Discoveries, Compton's Encyclopedia. On the other hand, I managed to put all teaching materials into PowerPoint, where letters, photo, graphic, animation, audio, and video files are orderly stored in terms of slides. It takes time for me to prepare my teaching materials via PowerPoint, but it is a wonderful tool for the sake of presentations. And it is worth trying as long as I can entertain my students in such a way. Once everything is put into the computer, I feel relaxed and a bit excited watching my students enjoy my presentations. It appears to be great fun for students because they have never experienced this type of instruction. This is how I freed myself from having to manipulate a cassette tape player, VTR, and write on the board. The student monitors in front of them seem to help them concentrate on what they see, combined with what they hear. All I have to do is to simply click a mouse to give presentations and explanations, when necessary. I use a remote mouse, which prevents me from sitting at the instructor table. Instead, I can walk around in the room and enjoy freer interactions with students. Using this instrument, I can also have my students participate in the presentation. In particular, I invite my students to manipulate the computer using the remote mouse from the student's seat not from the instructor's seat. Every student appears to be fascinated with my multimedia approach to English teaching because of its unique nature as a new teaching tool as we face the 21st century. They all agree that the multimedia way is an interesting and fascinating way of learning to satisfy their needs. Above all, it helps lighten their drudgery in the classroom. They feel other subjects taught by other teachers should be treated in the same fashion. A multimedia approach to education is impossible without the advent of hi-tech computers, of which multi functions are integrated into a unified system, i.e., a personal computer. If you have computer-phobia, make quick friends with it; the sooner, the better. It can be a wonderful assistant to you. It is the Internet that I pay close attention to in conjunction with the multimedia approach to English education. Via e-mail system, I encourage my students to write to me in English. I encourage them to enjoy chatting with people all over the world. I also encourage them to visit the sites where they offer study courses in English conversation, vocabulary, idiomatic expressions, reading, and writing. I help them search any subject they want to via World Wide Web. Some day in the near future it will be the hub of learning for everybody. It will eventually free students from books, teachers, libraries, classrooms, and boredom. I will keep exploring better ways to give satisfying instructions to my students who deserve my entertainment.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.435-444
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• 2014

As vocabulary acquisition has become one of the emerging key issues in the foreign language education field, interest in vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) has also increased. However, little has been done to investigate the vocabulary learning strategies of young learners. Therefore, this study attempts to investigate VLS use in elementary school English language textbooks. A total of three fifth grade English textbooks and teachers' guidebooks were chosen and analyzed with the vocabulary learning strategies taxonomy suggested by Scbmitt (1997). The researcher identified there were only a limited number of vocabulary learning strategies in the textbooks and most of them were consolidation strategies. It was concluded that a variety of VLS should be introduced in multiple ways in consideration of learner preference, styles, culture and level of English proficiency. Some implications for the teaching and learning of vocabulary for EFL instruction amongst young learners are discussed.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.16-21
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to evaluate Environmental microbiology (EM) as a basic course for the environmental engineering program of Korea Maritime University which has been accredited by Accreditation Board for Engineering Education of Korea (ABEEK). Evaluation result of the lecture objectives was more than the average (3.5/5.0). The overall score for learning achievement assessment was more than average level of learning achievement (3.4/5.0). Interestingly, engineering design implementation regarding a specific topic as an extensive learning process has proven to be more effective (3.5/5.0). Some of effective class improvement strategies suggested were to encourage students to participate in the class with self-motivation and accountability: preview and review of the lecture, team presentation in English-speaking settings, and submitting project report written in English. In the future class of EM, test and evaluation of application capability of EM and environmental biotechnology (EB) theories to engineering problem solving should be emphasized.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.367-374
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• 2016

In this study, we proposed the development of smart application for English speaking effectively. First, to develop English learning application, we applied the TTS feature to record your own sounds and learning theory repeated listening and speaking that is the basis of English learning. To analyze the effectiveness of the application, we applied a lesson to elementary students for 4 months. In the test result, we found that all students have advanced to the English speaking ability and the test results of the affective factors showed a positive response to most students.

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

• Proceedings of the KSPS conference
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• 2000.07a
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• pp.88-95
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• 2000

This paper attempts to investigate characteristic features of Japanese EFL learners' English intonation and how their Japanese accents are affecting their English intonation, focusing on a comparison between the accent patterns of Japanese compounds and the stress patterns of English compounds. It is based on research dedicated to helping to improve the teaching and learning of English intonation (prosody) for Japanese EFL learners. It examines the Fundamental Frequency (henceforth Fx) contours of two EFL college students, one specializing in English and the other in Japanese. Both of them may be considered upper intermediate EFL students with their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) scores ranging between 500 and 550.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.31-68
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• 2006

The present research investigates the acquisition of the English locative alternation by Korean EFL learners, which poses a learnability paradox, taking Pinker's framework of learnability theory as its basis. It addresses two questions (1) how lexical knowledge is represented initially and at different levels of interlanguage development and (2) what kinds of difficulty Korean learners find in the acquisition of English locative verbs and their constructions. Three groups of learners at different proficiency levels with a control group of English native speakers are examined by two instruments: elicited production task and grammaticality judgment task. According to different levels of proficiency, the learners exhibit gradual sensitivity to a change-of-state meaning and obtain complete perception of the meanings of locative verbs (manner-of-motion and change-of-state) and their constructions. Overgeneralization errors are observed in their performance. The errors are due to misinterpretations of particular lexical items in conjunction with the universal linking rules. More fundamental cause of difficulty is accounted for by partial use of learning mechanisms, caused by insufficient L2 input.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.24-30
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• 2009

This experiment, on the method of teaching English for left brain dominated engineering college students, was carried out through two groups, the experimental group which was composed of the engineering college students and the controlled group. The experimental group undertook dictogloss tasks in English class during the period of eight weeks from July to August, 2008. As a result, the effect of learning on experimental group showed significantly being high compared to that of the controlled group in the TOEIC test, an English ability test. This means that dictogloss is an effective learning activity which can be used in English class for left brain dominated engineering college students, and more improvement in English ability can be expected when appropriate levels and durations to learners are applied.

• Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.249-277
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• 2002

The purpose of this paper is to show that Web-Based English Instruction (WBEI) focused on writing is effective in learning English in Korea. To investigate the effectiveness of WBEI, a survey was conducted to the experimental group after WBEI and a test was taken to compare the difference of the score of the experimental group and control group. According to the survey, almost all students thought that WBEI was a most effective way to improve communicative competence by exchanging electronic mails with native speakers. The test showed that the experimental group's score was somewhat low in comparison with the control group's in pre-test, but the former groups' was rather higher than the control groups' in post-test. This study also suggests that we should develop more effective Web-based English teaching-learning methods to activate WBEI in our classroom.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.207-229
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• 2010

The present study has sought to explore the critical issues of English immersion education through the voices of the four elementary teachers who have recently taught at immersion programs under the guidance of Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education. The interview data with three teachers and the teaching journals of one teacher were analyzed and categorized into two emergent themes: (1) current difficulties in the immersion programs and (2) possible problems with the implementations of immersion programs in all public schools. Specifically, the first issue included teachers' inadequate teaching skills for immersion programs, accumulated learning losses, and lack of immersion class hours. The second issue included workload imposed on immersion program teachers, promotion of private education, learning losses of other subjects, and administration for show. Finally, pedagogical implications are suggested.