• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.193-211
• /
• 2003

This study aims to illustrate students' and teachers' perceptions towards certification of English proficiency and proficiency- based curriculum, and to investigate their needs for developing college English program. A total of 597 students and 28 teachers participated in the survey. The findings showed that both groups acknowledged the usefulness of the certification of English proficiency and proficiency-based curriculum. However, both groups showed a negative response to 'waive test' (testing for the replacement of English required class). They also expressed high level of needs in increasing the number of courses and credit hours, reducing the class size, and improving facilities. Both groups perceived speaking and listening as more important skills, while students showed various preferences for effective language practice activities. The findings of this study suggest t hat the introduction of certification of English proficiency should he supplemented with follow-ups both in pedagogical aspect and on administrative level.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
• /
• v.17 no.4
• /
• pp.273-291
• /
• 2011

This study investigates factors that influence ESL learners' use/avoidance of English phrasal verbs. It especially focuses on two factors, topic difference and group membership. For the purpose, 60 ESL students who took the University English Proficiency Test (UEPT) were selected, and the 60 essays they wrote for the UEPT were analyzed. All the students were with non-Germanic first language backgrounds. Among the 60 essays, 30 essays were selected from the essays written for the International Students UEPT (IS UEPT), which was required of all new international students. Another 30 essays were selected from the essays written for the Regents' UEPT, which was required of all non-native English speaking undergraduate students as a graduation requirement. Results indicate that the length of residency in the U.S. and/or academic status and semantic complexities of English phrasal verbs but not topic difference nor English proficiency affected the use of English phrasal verbs. The study ends with a discussion of pedagogical implications of the findings.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.21 no.4
• /
• pp.69-79
• /
• 2000

This study compared the English and the Korean receptive competency of bilingual children with that of English and Korean monolingual children, respectively. The relation between English and Korean receptive competency of bilingual children was examined by age and gender. Subjects were 27 bilingual, 30 Korean monolingual, 24 English monolingual children. They were administered the revised form of the Peabody Pictures Vocabulary Test in Korean and English versions. Results show that bilingual children's Korean receptive competency is lower than those who spoke only Korean, and bilingual children's English receptive competency was a little lower than those who spoke only English, but the difference narrowerd with age. The relation between Korean and English competency in bilingual children was negative in 4- and 5-year-olds but became positive in 6-year-olds. This study shows that the two points-of-view on bilingual language development should be applied differently depending on children's age.

• Journal of The Korean Association of Information Education
• /
• v.23 no.5
• /
• pp.491-497
• /
• 2019

As the world develops into a global society, more and more people want to speak foreign languages fluently. To speak fluently, you must have sufficient training in speaking, which requires a dialogue partner. Recently, it is expected that the development of voice recognition information technology will enable the development of a system for conducting foreign language speaking training without human beings from the other party. In this study, a test bed system for foreign language speaking training was developed and applied to elementary school classes. Elementary school students were asked to present their English conversation situation and conduct speaking training. Then, satisfaction with the system and potential for continuous utilization were surveyed. The system developed in this study has been identified as helpful for the training of learning to speak a foreign language.

• Speech Sciences
• /
• v.2
• /
• pp.135-147
• /
• 1997

This thesis describes pronunciation differences of vowel lengths between Koreans and Americans speaking English words and sentences. This study also analizes the reasons for these differences with the help of acoustic instruments. Sixteen sentences and eight words were selected as the experimental material. The informants for this study were 9 males; 3 Americans and 6 Koreans, who were asked to pronounce the test words and sentences five times. In this study, the acoustical analysis to measure duration was done through computer digital techniques. According to the results of the experiment, duration of 8 English vowels pronounced between Koreans and Americans shows very different features. When Koreans pronounce English vowels, the duration of the stressed vowel in the sentence-final position is much shorter than in other positions, such as in the sentence-initial and in word position. On the contrary, when Americans pronounce English vowels, the duration of the stressed vowel in the sentence-final position is much longer than in other positions. If the correlation between length and stress were to be studied in a more detailed manner, it would give fundamental help to the study of relation between stress and length.

• Speech Sciences
• /
• v.12 no.4
• /
• pp.141-152
• /
• 2005

This paper shows the tonal patterns of English conjunctive utterances produced by Korean speakers of English, presenting that Korean speakers realize either the H - phrase tone or the H% boundary tone at the phrase-final part of the conjunctive utterances. Based on Pierrehumbert & Hirschberg's (1990) claim that either H- or H% tone indicates that a phrase is related to the following one, Korean speakers seem to produce the satisfactory patterns of edge tones in conjunctive sentences. In the experiment, we made up conjunctive sentences including both coordinate conjunctions such as and, but, or, and so and subordinate conjunctions like if, when and though. We varied the stimuli according to the existence of a comma and the lengths of connecting words and phrases. We also divided the subjects into two levels of English proficiency based on their English written test scores to see if Korean speakers' performance ability of edge tones is related with their general competence of English. Results show that Korean speakers produced 84% of the H- phrase tone in intermediate phrases and H-L% and L-H% boundary tones in intonational phrases. Also, coordinate and subordinate conjunctions show little difference in their tonal contours, and the existence of a comma or the lengths of connecting words and phrases do not affect Korean speakers' production of the H- phrasal tone and the H% boundary tone. This may suggest that pitch accents, rather than edge tones, should be put more focus on in teaching English intonation in Korea as much work has already shown that Korean speakers have serious problem with producing pitch accents in speaking English.

• The Journal of Korean Association of Computer Education
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.75-83
• /
• 2005

In this paper we studied English listening and speaking test part of foreign language using web and VoiceXML-based education testing system, which is irrespective of time and space. The testing system interface based on VoiceXML consists of user registration module, testing module, and testing result module. User registration module registers user's name and ID, password in user database, and when a tester calls for testing, the User listens to the telephone sound supported by vxml scenario. After that, if a tester logs in, the tester is verified, In the VoiceXML-based education testing system, the manager can reduce time and effort for gaining testing result. The tester listens to the voice by scenario supported by VoiceXML markup language using wire/wireless telephone at any time or anywhere and can improve the effect of foreign language studying by valuating in voice directly. verified. In the VoiceXML-based education testing system, the manager can reduce time and effort for gaining testing result. The tester listens to the voice by scenario supported by VoiceXML markup language using wire/wireless telephone at any time or anywhere and can improve the effect of foreign language studying by valuating in voice directly.

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

• Cross-Cultural Studies
• /
• v.48
• /
• pp.223-252
• /
• 2017

This study explores effects of two types of chatbots - voice-based and text-based - on Korean EFL learners' speaking competence and learner perception. Participants were 80 freshmen students taking an English-speaking class at a university in Korea. They were divided into two experimental groups at random. During the sixteen-week experimental period, participants engaged in 10 chat sessions with the two different types of chatbots. To take a close examination of effects on the improvement of speaking competence, they took the TOEIC speaking test as pre- and post-tests. Structured questionnaire-based surveys were conducted before and after treatment to determine if there are changes in perception. Findings reveal two chatbots effectively contribute to improvement of speaking competence among EFL learners. Particularly, the voice-based chatbot was as effective as the text-based chatbot. An analysis of survey results indicates perception of chatbot-assisted language learning changed positively over time. In particular, most participants preferred voice-based chatbot over text-based chatbot. This study provides insight on the use of chatbots in EFL learning, suggesting that EFL teachers should integrate chatbot technology in their classrooms.

• Journal of Agricultural Extension & Community Development
• /
• v.16 no.1
• /
• pp.125-152
• /
• 2009

The objective of this study, which applies the multiple-disciplinary approach to the developmental characteristics of children, is to study and develop a class model that can be applied to actual kindergarten classes in rural area. For this purpose, this study proposes teaching and learning methodologies for children based on English children's tales to help make the English education of children more effective and efficient. Based on the findings, the following suggestions should be considered for improving the English-education class model for kindergartners for rural areas: First, various activities based on the multiple-intelligence approach are important methods of children-oriented education advanced by the Sixth Children's Curriculum, helping children grow their independence and creativity. Second, various activities developed by this study on the basis of the multiple-intelligence approach to promote children's reading, listening, speaking, and writing abilities helped children improve their linguistic capacities, improve creativity, and remain motivated, which was reinforced by the differences found between the test group and the control group.