• Journal of Information Processing Systems
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.535-548
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• 2022

Using a rich resource language to classify sentiments in a language with few resources is a popular subject of research in natural language processing. Burmese is a low-resource language. In light of the scarcity of labeled training data for sentiment classification in Burmese, in this study, we propose a method of transfer learning for sentiment analysis of a language that uses the feature transfer technique on sentiments in English. This method generates a cross-language word-embedding representation of Burmese vocabulary to map Burmese text to the semantic space of English text. A model to classify sentiments in English is then pre-trained using a convolutional neural network and an attention mechanism, where the network shares the model for sentiment analysis of English. The parameters of the network layer are used to learn the cross-language features of the sentiments, which are then transferred to the model to classify sentiments in Burmese. Finally, the model was tuned using the labeled Burmese data. The results of the experiments show that the proposed method can significantly improve the classification of sentiments in Burmese compared to a model trained using only a Burmese corpus.

• Asia Pacific Journal of Corpus Research
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.1-39
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• 2023

Recent research in usage-based Second Language Acquisition has provided new insights into second language (L2) learners' development of formulaic language (Wulff, 2019). The current study examines the use of phrase-frames, which are recurring sequences of words including one or more variable slots (e.g., it is * that), in written and oral production data from Asian learners of English across four proficiency levels (beginner, low-intermediate, high-intermediate, advanced) and native English speakers. The variability, predictability, and discourse functions of the most frequent 4-word phrase-frames from the written essay and spoken dialogue sub-corpora of the International Corpus Network of Asian Learners of English (ICNALE) were analyzed and then compared across groups and modes. The results revealed that while learners' phrase-frames in writing became more variable and unpredictable as proficiency increased, no clear developmental patterns were found in speaking, although all groups used more fixed and predictable phrase-frames than the reference group. Further, no developmental trajectories in the functions of the most frequent phrase-frames were found in both modes. Additionally, lower-level learners and the reference group used more variable phrase-frames in speaking, whereas advanced-level learners showed more variability in writing. This study contributes to a better understanding of the development of L2 phraseological competence.

• Journal of Korean language education
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.1-23
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• 2018

This paper investigates how adult Mandarin- and English- speaking learners of Korean perceive Korean vowels, with focus on the effect of the first language (L1) and the second language (L2) acoustic relationship, as well as the influence of Korean language experience. For this study, native Mandarin and Canadian English speakers who have learned Korean as a foreign language, as well as a control group of native Korean speakers, participated in two experiments. Experiment 1 was designed to examine acoustic similarities between Korean and English vowels, as well as Korean and Mandarin vowels to predict which Korean vowels are relatively easy, or difficult for L2 learners to perceive. The linear discriminant analysis (Klecka, 1980) based on their L1-L2 acoustic similarity predicted that L2 Mandarin learners would have perceptual difficulty rankings for Korean vowels as follows: (the easiest) /i, a, e/ >> /ɨ, ʌ, o, u/ (most difficult), whereas L2 English learners would have perceptual difficulty rankings for Korean vowels as follows: (the easiest) /i, a, e, ɨ, ʌ/ >> /o, u/ (most difficult). The goal of Experiment 2 was to test how accurately L2 Mandarin and English learners perceive Korean vowels /ɨ, ʌ, o, u/ which are considered to be difficult for L2 learners. The results of a mixed-effects logistic model revealed that English listeners showed higher identification accuracy for Korean vowels than Mandarin listeners, indicating that having a larger L1 vowel inventory than the L2 facilitates L2 vowel perception. However, both groups have the same ranking of Korean vowel perceptual difficulty: ɨ > ʌ > u > o. This finding indicates that adult learners of Korean can perceive the new vowel /ɨ/, which does not exist in their L1, more accurately than the vowel /o/, which is acoustically similar to vowels in their L1, suggesting that L2 learners are more likely to establish additional phonetic categories for new vowels. In terms of the influence of experience with L2, it was found that identification accuracy increases as Korean language experience rises. In other words, the more experienced English and Mandarin learners of Korean are, the more likely they are to have better identification accuracy in Korean vowels than less experienced learners of Korean. Moreover, there is no interaction between L1 background and L2 experience, showing that identification accuracy of Korean vowels is higher as Korean language experience increases regardless of their L1 background. Overall, these findings of the two experiments demonstrated that acoustic similarity between L1 and L2 sounds using the LDA model can partially predict perceptual difficulty in L2 acquisition, indicating that other factors such as perceptual similarity between L1 and L2, the merge of Korean /o/ and /u/ may also influence their Korean vowel perception.

• Child Studies in Asia-Pacific Contexts
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.95-105
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• 2015

We developed a test of English silent word reading, following work by Mather, Hammill, Allen and Roberts (2004) and Bell, McCallum, Krik, Fuller, and McCane-Bowling (2007), in order to tap Hong Kong Chinese children's reading of English as a foreign language. We created one subtest of individual word reading and another of word reading contextualized within sentences; together, these tests require no more than 10 minutes for administration. In Study 1, we administered the entire test to 552 second grade Hong Kong Chinese children between the ages of 70 and 121 months old, from five different primary schools. The association between the subtests of English silent word reading and contextual reading was positively correlated (.78). In Study 2, 77 Hong Kong Chinese second graders were tested on our newly developed English silent word reading test, together with non-verbal IQ, an English word reading and a Chinese character recognition test (both read aloud). With age and non-verbal IQ statistically controlled, there was a significant correlation between English silent word reading and the more standard English word reading, read aloud, (.78); the association between English silent word reading and Chinese character recognition was also positively correlated (.49). This newly created test is a quick and reliable measure, suitable for both educators and researchers to use to identify poor readers who learn English as a foreign or second language.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.139-160
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• 2011

This study examines correlations between affective variables and English learners' achievement in native teachers' classes. Specifically, it aims to study the relationships among Korean college students' English learning motivation, anxiety, WTC (willingness to communicate) and their English achievement scores. For the purpose, the questionnaire surveys were conducted, and the students' English scores were analyzed and compared. The participants were 216 university students taking the general English courses as a requirement for graduation. The results indicated that although the students had high level motivation to learn English, especially for social reasons, their WTC in and outside the classroom was low. Also, unlike the previous studies on foreign language anxiety, their anxiety level was not significant. Anxiety and motivation were negatively correlated; WTC and motivation were positively correlated. However, according to the regression analysis, the explanatory power of the three affective variables was not significant for the students' achievement scores. Several possible reasons and some pedagogical implications are provided in the conclusion.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.51-78
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• 2006

This research conducted between March and December of 2005 has focused on analyzing a diverse range of educational services provided by English native-speaking instructors teaching in Korea. This study includes quantitative research findings from 238 university students. This dual-semester research study focuses on our most recent Korean EFL (English as a Foreign Language) programs provided for university students who wish to improve their English ability. Many students hope to partake in lectures taught by Native English Speaking teachers (hereafter NS teachers), and many universities are also willing to open additional courses for these students. However, in order for lectures to be most effective, NS instructors need to be appropriately trained or qualified teachers in order to successfully educate their students. Furthermore, NS teachers need to constantly review their teaching styles and strategies to allow for professional development and to ensure an improvement in their teaching methodology. Overall, this research provides whole English lecture views of NS teachers that is data-driven regarding designing, implementing, evaluating, and reforming the education of English taught by NS teachers working in Korea.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.157-175
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to compare learners' view on Korean and native teachers of English with regard to competence of teaching skills. A total of 166 high school students attending the same high school in Korea participated in a questionnaire survey. The students were asked a series of questions about their five Korean teachers of English and three natives. The analysis of the results indicates that the learners believed Korean English teachers would be better in teaching vocabulary, grammar and reading than native English teachers. The learners answered native English teachers would be better in teaching speaking, listening, and writing. In the areas of the accuracy of classroom language, the level of teacher-centeredness, and the amount of cultural information given in a classroom, there were no significant differences in the learners' responses between Korea and native teacher of English. By recognizing the differences of the learners' views on two different types of ELT teachers, we suggest that it would be beneficial for learners if we would utilize their views in designing and administrating a team-teaching program.

• Journal of English Language & Literature
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.335-357
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• 2007

This study aims to investigate the pragmatic features of Korean EFL learners' interlanguage in the communicative act of complaining. Since a complaint, by its nature, is likely to cause offence, thereby threatening the social relationship between the speaker and the hearer, making a complaint in a polite manner is of crucial importance in maintaining harmonious social relationships. However, very little research has been carried out on the complaint speech act performances of Korean EFL learners. In particular, studies which attempt to examine the effect of social status on the choice of complaint speech act strategies are rare. The present study compared the complaint speech act performances of Korean EFL learners and those of native speakers of English with respect to social status. 24 Korean EFL learners and 28 native speakers of English participated and the data were collected via a Discourse Completion Test. The findings revealed that Korean EFL learners differed from native English speakers in the use of complaint strategies. These results indicate that Korean EFL learners lack certain important skills necessary to make complaints appropriately, suggesting the need for the foreign language learners to develop a more extensive pragmatic knowledge of complaint strategies.

• Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.417-435
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• 2001

The aim of this paper is two-fold. First, it examines the romanization of personal names of the teachers who teach English at a university and compares it with the romanization of the general public to see whether there is a unity between the two groups. Second, it explores whether the teachers romanize their personal names consistently and, if they don't, how differently they romanize their names. The data used in this study are the romanized names of the 313 authors who published their articles in The Journal of English Language and Literature from 1991 to 2000. The study shows that the English teachers and the general public differ in the order of the given name and surname as well as formatting. Most of the English teachers prefer to put their surnames last while the majority of the general public put their surnames first. The English teachers opt Gn-Gn and Gngn whereas the general public select Gn Gn for their given names. However, both groups, in general, spell the surname with the same Roman alphabets. The study also shows that the English teachers frequently reverse the order of the given name and surname, and change the formatting of their given names. They, however, spell their names rather consistently. This result indicates that Koreans may be lenient with the order of the given name and surname and formatting of their given names. However, they will unlikely change the spelling of their names even when a new policy on personal names is promulgated.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.91-94
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• 2023

This study aims to evaluate the Higher Diploma in English for the Primary Stage from the diploma students' perspectives. A questionnaire was designed consisting of 25 items distributed in two areas: cognitive/academic preparation and professional/skill preparation. The following statistical analyses were used: means, standard deviations, t-test, and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The study results showed that the level of evaluation of the two domains in the program was low. The study also showed no statistically significant differences between the means of educational diploma students when evaluating the Higher Diploma in English for the Primary Stage due to their academic specialization (Arabic language, social sciences, and Islamic studies). In conclusion, the researcher suggested a developmental mechanism derived from the study results to improve the higher Diploma in English for the Primary Stage.