• International Journal of Contents
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.89-96
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• 2019

This study examines the impact of online collaborative English language learning to enhance learner motivation and classroom engagement in university English instruction. The role of learner motivation and classroom engagement has gained much attention under the premises of current constructivist framework of English as a foreign language education. To promote learner motivation and classroom interaction in English instruction, participants in this study engaged in integrative English learning activities through online group collaboration and peer-tutoring. They exchanged productive peer response and shared their learning experiences throughout the integrative English learning activities. Digital technology played an integral role in motivating the learning process of the participants. Data for this study were gathered through an online questionnaire survey and semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed based on the ARCS motivational model of instructional design to identify the motivational aspects of integrative English learning activities. This study reveals that participants of this study regarded online collaborative English learning activities as the positive and motivating learning experience. The online collaborative English reading instruction had positive effect on improving EFL university students' learning performance. Participants of this study also identified affective and metacognitive benefits of online collaborative EFL learning activities for learner motivation and classroom engagement. This study reveals that the social networking platform in online group collaboration played a crucial role for the participants in understanding the integration of online group collaboration as the positive and effective language learning strategy. This study may have implications in suggesting the effective instructional design for promoting learner motivation and classroom interaction in EFL education.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1019-1029
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• 2014

In recent years, researchers have become increasingly interested in the creation and pedagogical use of English learner corpora. Many studies have shown that learner corpora can not only make a significant contribution to second language acquisition research but also contribute to the construction and evaluation of language tests by advancing our understanding of English learners. So far, however, little attention has been paid to the Korean EFL (English as a foreign language) learners' corpus. The Yonsei English Learner Corpus (YELC 2011) is a specialized, monolingual, and synchronic Korean EFL learner corpus that was developed by Yonsei University from 2011 to 2012. Over 3,000 Korean high school graduates (or equivalents) who were accepted by Yonsei University for their further studies participated in this project. It consists of 6,572 written texts (1,085,828 words) at nine different English proficiency levels. In this paper, we describe its compilation, and more specifically, how we have corpusized from a text archive to a corpus. After introducing the process of corpusization, we report arresting insights into the specific linguistic features that different proficiency levels of Korean learners of English have. This study also discusses the potential use of the YELC 2011 which is now freely available for research purposes.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.106-112
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• 2023

This study proposes learner participatory activities for learner-centered college liberal arts classes. In addition, it analyzes learners' perceptions of and satisfaction with learner-centered classes and identifies the issues that must be considered when planning learner-centered activities for college liberal arts classes. The study used a learner-centered participatory activity in which participants created a 4-cut cartoon addressing a specific theme. An open-ended questionnaire was administered to identify learners' attitudes about and satisfaction with the learner-centered classes. It showed that most learners (87.5%) were highly satisfied with the 4-cut cartoon creation activities in the learner-centered participatory class. Learners identified the burden- free nature of the class activities, the fact that they improved their understanding of class content, and that they were fun (not boring) as the main reasons they found the class activities satisfying. In liberal arts English classes, more diverse participatory class activities should be developed to arouse interest and motivation of learners and encourage learners' participation.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.227-251
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• 2007

The development and use of computer mediated communications (CMC) as a tool for teaching and learning English has grown considerably in recent years. The purpose of this study is to investigate factors related to learners' participation, achievement, and satisfaction in EFL classes using web-based bulletin boards. The total number of 77 university students participated in this study. Three domains and eight independent variables investigated in this study were a learner-related domain (attitudes toward CMC, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, attitudes toward writing), an interaction-related domain (student-student interaction, teacher-student interaction), and an environmental domain (physical support and design of the web site). In order to determine interrelation of variables correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used. The results of this study showed that the factors predicting a learner's participation were instrumental motivation, attitudes toward writing, and teacher-student interaction. The factors explaining a learner's achievement were learner's participation and attitudes toward writing, and the factors predicting a learner's satisfaction were integrative motivation, student-student interaction, teacher-student interaction, physical support and learner's participation.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.33-51
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• 2008

Difference of learner speech and loanword phonology is investigated in terms of Korean learners' speech and their loanword adaptation of English words with a post-vocalic word-final stop. When we compared the speech of 12 Korean learners in mid-intermediate level with that of eight English speakers, the learner speech did not reflect loanword phonology of the vowel insertion after a voiced word-final stop (e.g., rib$[\dotplus]$, bad$[\dotplus]$, gag$[\dotplus]$ vs. tip[=], cat[=], book[=]), but, instead, the target phonology of vowel lengthening before a voiced word-final stop (e.g., rib[r.I:b], CAD$[k{\ae}:d]$, bag$[b{\ae}:g]$ vs. rip[rI.p], cat$[k{\ae}t]$, back$[b{\ae}k])$. A longitudinal study of learner speech before and after instruction showed some development toward the acquisition of target phonology. The results indicate that learner speech departs from loanword phonology, and approaches to target speech in a faster rate than direct ratio. Thus, native phonology predicts loanword phonology, but lends little support to learner speech. Our results also indicate that loanword phonology is constant, while learner speech changes toward the acquisition of target phonology.

• International Journal of Internet, Broadcasting and Communication
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.44-52
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• 2022

With recent scientific advances and growing interest in AI technologies, AI-based chatbots have been viewed as a practical learning aid for English language development. The purpose of this study is to examine preservice teachers' perceptions on the potential benefits of employing AI chatbots in English instruction and its pedagogical aspects. 28 preservice teachers majoring in English education were asked to use Kuki chatbots for a week with a guidance of a researcher and then report on their perceptions of AI chatbots in terms of perceived usefulness after use, applicability, and educational benefits and drawbacks. Emerging codes and themes were identified and evaluated using Thematic Analysis(TA) based on qualitative data from surveys and interviews. The findings show that six emerging themes were identified, encompassing perspectives on teacher, learner, communication, linguistic, affective, and assessment. The overall findings of this study revealed that AI-based chatbots can play a significant role as learning tools for stimulating interactive communication in a target language. Most preservice primary teachers acknowledge that AI chatbots can be useful as teaching and learning aids for both teachers and students. Furthermore, when applying various learner data to chatbot technology, such as learner assessment and diagnosis, a guided approach is necessary to perform a conversation appropriate for the learner's level and characteristics. Finally, as chatbots have a variety of benefits in terms of affective aspects, they may improve EFL learners' confidence in speaking English and learning motivation.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 2004.05a
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• pp.147-149
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• 2004

Although most of the people have studied English for a long time, their English conversation capability is low. When we provide them portable conversational-type English learners by the application of computer and information process technology, such portable learners can be used to enhance their English conversation capability by their conventional conversation exercises. The core technology to develop such learner is the development of a voice recognition and synthesis module under an embedded environment. This paper deals with voice recognition and synthesis, prototype of the learner module using a DSP(Digital Signal Processing) chip for voice processing, voice playback function, flash memory file system, PC download function using USB ports, English conversation text function by the use of SMC(Smart Media Card) flash memory, LCD display function, MP3 music listening function, etc. Application areas of the prototype equipped with such various functions are vast, i.e. portable language learners, amusement devices, kids toy, control by voice, security by the use of voice, etc.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.8
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• pp.572-583
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• 2019

This study sought to find out what the most ideal and appropriate native English speakers-Korean English teacher cooperative class model and the defining factors for organizing effective cooperative classes in the English education environment of our country. To achieve this goal, a total of 165 sixth graders of five elementary schools in Seoul were subject to the study. For about a month from April 1 to April 30, 2019, the survey and statistical analysis were conducted, including multiple return analysis, correlation analysis, cross analysis, and t/F verification. In summary, the results of the study are as follows. First, it was found that among the recognition of cooperative classes between native English speakers and Korean English teachers, it affected the defining factors in the order of class-related skills, task orientation, teaching-learning strategies, and motivation. Second, based on learner characteristics, the difference in perception of cooperative classes between native English speakers and Korean English teachers was verified, and the perception of native-Korean English teachers' cooperative classes was different depending on gender and the type of English cooperative classes currently participating, but the recognition of native-Korean English-Korean English cooperative classes, which were statistically significant, was not confirmed. Third, according to learner characteristics, the difference in the definition factors of the learner was verified and the difference between the sexes occurred, but the learner-defined factors according to the current type of English cooperative class did not occur. Also, there was no difference in the definition factors of scholars according to the type of English cooperative classes desired.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.95-112
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• 2005

We investigate Korean learners' speech-timing of English before and after instruction in comparison with native speech, in an attempt to resolve disagreements in the literature as to whether speech-timing is measurable (Lehiste, 1977; Roach, 1982; Dauer, 1983 vs. Low et al., 2000; Yun 2002; Jian, 2004). We measured the pair-wise variability between the adjacent stressed and unstressed syllables within a foot as well as that among adjacent feet in approximately 555 English sentences, which were read by 29 native speakers and 41 Korean learners in the intermediate proficiency level. The results show that in comparison with native American English, Korean learner speech is before instruction significantly (p<.001) smaller for the pair-wise variability between the adjacent stressed and unstressed syllables within a foot; and significantly (p=.01) bigger for the variability among adjacent feet within the utterance. The learner speech after instruction showed significant (p=.01) improvement in the pair-wise variability of syllable sequence toward native speech values. The variability among adjacent feet was progressively smaller for learner speech before and after instruction and for native speech (p=.03). We thus conclude that the speech timing difference between Korean English and American English is measurable in terms of the duration. of stressed and unstressed syllables and that the latter is stress-timed and the former is syllable-timing interfered.

• Speech Sciences
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.57-75
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• 1999

The purpose of this paper is to develop an English prosody training system using PC for Korean learners of English. The program is called Intonation Training Tool (ITT). It operates on DOS 5.0. The hardware for this program requires over IBM PC 386 with 4 MBytes main memory, SVGA (1 MByte or more) for graphic, soundblaster 16 and over 14 inch monitor size. The ITT program operates this way: the learners can listen as well as see the English teacher's stress and intonation patterns on the monitor. The learner practices the same patterns with a microphone. This program facilitates the learner's stress and intonation patterns to overlap the teacher's patterns. The learner can find his/her stress and intonation errors and correct these independently. This program is expected to be a highly efficient learning tool for Korean learners of English in their English prosody training in the English class without the aid of a native English speaker in the classroom.