• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.129-150
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• 2009

This paper attempts to examine the effect of children's English stories on the development of Korean EFL primary school learners' listening and speaking competences and their motivation to learn English. This paper also discusses factors of English children's stories that make EFL learners' language learning efficient. Participants were 120 primary school students who attend one of the elementary schools in Chungnam province. They were randomly chosen and divided into two groups: experimental and control groups. In order to collect data, students' listening and speaking proficiency pre- and post-tests and the pre- and post-questionnaires regarding the participants' motivation to learn English were administered. The data were analyzed by ANOVA. The results indicate that the application of English children's stories to EFL learning settings can be an efficient way to improve EFL learners' listening and speaking competences and motivation to learn their target language. The findings of this study suggest that English children's stories provide language learners with interest, meaningful and authentic contexts and enjoyment. The pedagogical suggestion and implications are provided for EFL educators and teachers.

• 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.8 no.2
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• pp.151-176
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• 2003

Motivation and learning strategies, some of the important factors affecting language learning, have mostly been studied with reference to their relationship in terms of proficiency. This study investigated motivation and learning strategies and their relationship in order to find the inward predisposition of learners. Data was collected from 200 university students in Taejon and Chungnam province, Korea language learning strategies were measured by the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning(SILL), and motivation by the Attitude / Motivation Test Battery(AMTB), with adaptations for Koreans. The detailed analysis of the data Indicated that Korean university students were more motivated to learn English for a practical goal than a formal one. They had a strong willingness to learn but showed 'the tendency of the new generation' of choosing the easiest and most convenient ways in studying English in terms of motivational intensity and strategy use. Findings imply that there have to be some changes and improvements in the deep-rooted classroom teaching methods. A systematic device is needed to induce students to be autonomous learners, providing them with a variety of activities suitable for their purposes and levels, as in opportunities of contacting native speakers, multi-media language labs, the Internet etc.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.549-553
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• 2014

This study is a report of an intensive ESP(English for Specific Purposes) program conducted for the College of Economic students in Korean University. This is planned for the students to enhance their English achievement in comprehending the subject contents which they would learn in the near future. In order to determine whether the course helped the students enhance their English achievement or not, a pre and post test were taken, one at the beginning of the semester and the other at the end of semester. The result of the test shows that this program benefits relevant students, especially lower level students. In accordance with a general accepted view, the English for Specific Purposes(ESP) program is generally targeted for students who expect to learn the basic knowledge of English through mediated courses. Since students already have specific purpose of studying for their major courses, their motivation and interest in the course are higher than the students who don't have any specific purpose. Therefore, this study shows that the students who took English for Specific Purposes(ESP) had higher motivation and interest to study English related to their major courses as the test results were higher than before they had taken the English for Specific Purposes (ESP) program.

• Korean Journal of Culture and Social Issue
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• v.14 no.1_spc
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• pp.167-186
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• 2008

This study is to investigate, from the perspective of implicit theory, what elements influence children's motivation to learn and how their configurations are different according to different sexes. One analysis was based on answers to a motivation questionnaire by fourth to sixth graders from four different cities in South Korea. The subjects children were most highly motivated to learn were math and science for boys, and math and English for girls, respectively. Factors influencing the motivation were near 30 in number, including later happier life, joy of learning, parental rewards, pleasure of being informed, and meeting parental expectations, among others. Another analysis was an exploratory and confirmative factor analysis on motivation to learn among 856 fourth to sixth graders randomly sampled from 7 different cities all over South Korea. Factors revealed to contribute to the motivated learning here were five factors of utility, interest, recognition, knowledge acquisition(being informed), and expectancy sufficiency. There were some differences in the structure of factors between sexes; importance was given to five factors of utility, interest, recognition, knowledge acquisition, and expectancy sufficiency in descending order for boys, and six factors of interest, utility, rewards, recognition, expectancy sufficiency, and competition for girls.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.485-494
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• 2020

This study analyses the needs of workers at foreigners-only casinos in Korea on English for Specific Purposes (ESP). It also examines the most ideal English instructor for them and the motivations for their learning English. A total of ninety-nine casino workers in Seoul and Busan participated in the survey. Of the four language skills, English speaking is the most necessary area for them to learn and listening is the second. The most difficult part of communicating in English for them to learn is also speaking, followed by listening. This indicates that the area that they need to study and the area in which they have difficulty communicating in English have the same ranking. The participants in the marketing department had the longest working hours in English, and they were significantly different from those in other departments. Regardless of their departments, the participants responded that speaking is the most necessary area to learn English. They mentioned that their biggest motivation for learning English is self-realization, followed by smooth work. The most ideal English instructor was a Korean instructor with casino working experience, followed by a bilingual Korean instructor. This showed their preference for Korean English teachers with casino working experience. This study might be meaningful since it provides information on a new field, casino workers, by analyzing their needs on ESP. It is suggested that this may contribute to setting the direction of English curriculum for casino workers in the future.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.200-206
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• 2020

Digital storytelling, a 21st century educational tool that combines digital media with storytelling, is considered as a powerful tool to learn foreign languages in an authentic and meaningful way. This study explored cyber university students' perceptions and experiences with a digital storytelling project implemented to enhance their English writing and speaking skills. The results of 9 week-long research indicated that most of the students' attitudes were positive: the digital storytelling project was effective to increase their English skills, learning motivation and interest in learning English. Most students perceived that the process writing approach and videotaping tasks provided them with good opportunities to develop their English writing and speaking skills. Although many students had difficulties selecting a topic and writing a script in the initial stage, they could handle with these challenges with the help of professors' feedback and successfully completed their projects. After completing the project, most students expressed a strong sense of accomplishment. These results suggest that the digital storytelling project effectively met cyber university students' learning needs and facilitate their English learning.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.213-221
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• 2019

The present study aims to investigate the effects of mobile phone use on aviation students' English language learning. Considering that affective factors have impacts on English language learning, this study focuses on confidence, motivation, and anxiety in English learning. For the current study, 46 college students were recruited. The participants were divided into one experimental group (n = 24) and one control group (n = 22) at random. During 16 weeks, the experimental group joined in chat via mobile phone while the control group did not. To understand the participants' experience of mobile phone use and to compare the attitudes towards English language learning, a survey was performed. Major findings are as follows: The experimental group showed more positive attitudes towards English learning than the control group did. Specifically, the participants who engaged in chat via mobile phone became more confident and motivated to learn English but less anxious about English learning. These results provide insights into the engagement in chat via mobile phone for aviation students' English learning. This study also suggests ways how CTL at universities can support their students' English language learning using mobile phones.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.207-221
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• 2012

This study examines the importance of learning language and cultural integration in general English class focused on TOEIC reading comprehension. The understanding of cultural learning and learners' cultural awareness has long been a subject of debate. This study was not only to analyze the improvement of students' interest and reading comprehension ability of TOEIC through cultural learning, but also to ensure students who learn American culture overcome cross-cultural miscommunication and improve their English reading comprehension skills. Pre-post surveys and the pre-post TOEIC tests were used to measure language proficiency and American cultural knowledge to two groups: the experimental and control group. The results from the study were as follows: First, students had better TOEIC scores with improved motivation after understanding American culture relevant to the lessons. Second, reading comprehension skills with regards to TOEIC also improved, compared with the students who were not exposed to American culture due to lack of opportunity.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.181-197
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• 2011

The purpose of this study is to measure how English immersion classes affect students. This study seeks to answer two questions. First, will the young learners gain an international sense? Second, will the students learn English naturally without having to be sent abroad to an English speaking country? Several kinds of immersion programs have been designed and implemented in Korea. However, many students have felt great stress and mental pressure in the immersion programs. Students find the programs stressful because English must be used at all times. In this paper, two groups of elementary school students are compared: one being the control group and the other being the experimental group, an immersion class. The results show that the mental health problems, sensitivities, and rates of depression in the immersion group are greater than those of the students in the control group. Therefore, the immersion students' overall mental health is substandard. The negative effects of lethargy and depression are made worse when they are placed in English only environments. The results indicate more attention should be focused on respecting and understanding the students' overall mental health when teaching them English.