• Korean Linguistics
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• v.63
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• pp.103-132
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• 2014

This study compares various speech rates of Korean learners with those of native Korean. Speech data were collected from 34 native Koreans and 33 Korean learners (19 Chinese and 14 Japanese). Each participant recorded a 9 syllabled Korean sentence at three different speech rate types. A total of 603 speech samples were analyzed by speech rate types (normal, slow, and fast), native languages (Korean, Chinese, Japanese), and learners' proficiency levels (beginner, intermediate, and advanced). We found that learners' L1 background plays a role in categorizing different speech rates in the L2 (Korean), and also that the leaners' proficiency correlates with the increase of speaking rate regardless of speech rate categories. More importantly, faster speech rate values found in the advanced level of learners do not necessarily match to the native speakers' speech rate categories. This means that learning speech rate categories can be more complex than we think of proficiency or fluency. That is, speech rate categories may not be acquired automatically during the course of second language learning, and implicit or explicit exposures to various rate types are necessary for second language learners to acquire a high level of communicative skills including speech rate variation. This paper discusses several pedagogical implications in terms of teaching pronunciation to second language learners.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.87-108
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• 2007

Given that various classroom contextual factors influence the nature of writing instructional practices, it would be worthwhile to explore these factors to generate better environment for learning to write. Among many factors, this study examined teachers' beliefs and knowledge, which would operate as a very influential contextual factor in that changes in principles and methods of teaching writing would be the results of their underlying beliefs and knowledge related to teaching writing. Three professional teachers who teach second- and third-grade English language learners (ELLs) were interviewed, and the analysis of teacher interviews was conducted. The research findings indicated that basically all of the teachers perceived the role of writing in second language learning as very important, sharing the belief that the ultimate goal of teaching writing is to have their students gain fluency in writing and that some of instructional methods such as integration of writing and other language aspects, content-based writing, and providing scaffolding are important. In addition, some beliefs that two ESL teachers shared included the importance of ample and continuous opportunities to write, vocabulary knowledge, and explicit instruction about writing. Other beliefs, including the importance of creating a comfortable writing environment and opportunities for writing for varied purposes and genres were represented.

• Journal of Korean language education
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.165-196
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• 2018

This study examined the language acquisition of children from Chinese families in Korea under the bilingual background of Korean and Chinese, focusing on pronunciation and vocabulary. First, in the analysis of pronunciation acquisition, children correctly realized the lenition, aspirated sound, glottalization, palatalization, nasalization, and liquidization while the realization of pronunciation rules for unfamiliar words was low. There were also errors caused when the application principles of pronunciation were not accurately understood or they were not partially acquired. Second, in the analysis of vocabulary acquisition, the acquisition of receptive vocabulary was in the order of verb, noun, and adjective while they clearly understood vocabulary used in the actual relationships with school, family, and peers. In the acquisition of productive vocabulary, they showed the 'meaning-centered principle' of learning the meaning of vocabulary first and then learning its form afterwards. The amount of study and exposure to Korean language had effects on the improvement of vocabulary. Even though this study focused on the errors and characteristics in the acquisition process of Korean pronunciation and vocabulary for children from Chinese families in Korea, it could not clearly find out which one would have greater effects on the acquisition of Korean language. However, lots of exchanges and experiences with surrounding environment and peer group had great effects on the language acquisition and language acquisition transfer of children.

• Journal of English Language & Literature
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.189-215
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• 2008

This study proposes using children's literature as a means of teaching and learning English as a foreign language and suggests practical strategies on the basis of transactional theory of reading suggested by Rosenblatt (1994, 1995). This study suggests three novels written for children or young adults: On My Honor (1986) by Marion Dane Bauer, The Giver (1993) by Lois Lowry and Hatchet (1987) by Gary Paulsen. These texts were selected because of their diverse topics, easy and comprehensible language, engaging stories, and authentic and rich expressions, making them effective materials for foreign language learners. This paper is organized as follows: First, it reviews research on teaching literature in English education and response-oriented language teaching to provide theoretical background of literature-based language teaching and learning. Second, it provides the background of the texts selected for the study. Third, it develops diverse, practical strategies for instructors who intend to use children's literature in EFL teaching. We expect to guide EFL instructors in adopting children's literature in their English class by connecting theory and practice and by providing diverse methods and strategies, and sample responses by EFL university students.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.365-389
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• 2005

The purpose of this study is to present the task model that is the most effective in English language methodology based on the investigation of task-based performance in Korean EFL classroom practice. The subjects were 538 high school students and 126 high school teachers, each of whom had common experiences using the materials of task-based activities for more than one year. To analyze the data, the program SPSS WIN 11.0 including frequency distribution and chi-square analysis was used. The results of the questionnaire analysis showed that both teachers and students had a comparatively high level of satisfaction in task rationale, but that they had some mixed responses in the fields of input data, settings, and activity types. To conclude, a few suggestions are made to provide some meaningful considerations for the EFL teachers and material developers: a) task goals and rationale that encourage the learner's positive motivation; b) authenticity of input data based on the real-world context; c) collaborative learning environment that enhances communicative interaction; d) proportional representation of the creative problem-solving activities related to discussions and decision-making processes; e) systematic introduction of integrated language skills. It also suggests that the multi-lateral task model, which has some positive assets compared to previous task models, be newly introduced and applied to the second language learning classrooms.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.87-92
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• 2017

This paper discusses the possibility of enhancing the efficiency in Second Language Learning with the help of an educational information and content search system that utilizes a Cloud system based Big Data. The proposed system plays a role in tracing the exact information that user request considering the interest, level, and aptitude of each individual. Also, the system screen outs unnecessary learning materials if they do not correspond to the user level which in result is one of the key factor in the proposed system. Since it requires multiple steps of verification in providing the extracted results finding out a way to reduce the steps to shorten the time of process.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.143-157
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• 2022

The aim of this study is to design Spudsville, an immersive game environment in Minecraft that can effectively help learners acquire the English language. To create a successful learning experience using Minecraft, the researchers adopted the Agile Model and the Design Thinking approach. The researchers first conducted an analysis through an extensive literature review in order to assess the learners' needs. Afterwards, they designed and developed a Minecraft world based on the data collected during the analysis phase. The researchers learned that implementing constructivist and behaviorist approaches has benefits, even though applying a cognitivist-learning model to Spudsville could have provided the researchers with more insight on how learner processes information. Making these adjustments could improve Spudsville's effectiveness and could potentially help the ways in which gamified learning aids with language acquisition.

• 중국학논총
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• no.61
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• pp.255-277
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• 2019

This paper presented a course plan based on the ideas I gained from conducting a lecture on Chinese language for students in the second semester of the Chinese language department at a four-year university. In the paper, we sought to deviate from the traditional grammar-translation teaching style and find ways for students to enjoy learning without difficulty in all areas by using the 'total language approach' such as writing, speaking, listening and reading through reading skills. Therefore, we discussed the educational significance and expression of the 'Chinese Languages' class, and introduced the class stages and methods of progress. In other words, they suggested introduction of text plots, explanation of vocabulary and grammar, presentation of original text, questions about text, arrangement of words, ordering sentences to fit the plot, and understanding the plot while looking at the picture.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.13 no.8
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• pp.1-8
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• 2015

This paper focuses on analyzing Korean language learning effect through the STEAM class using a robot which is targeted on multicultural elementary school students. For the purpose of it, the degree of difficulty and interest of how students feel has been measured. By using the programing tool of Korean language entering base, they learn the programming commands like as variable, data type, branching statement, loop statement, etc in Korean, the effect of Korean learning has been measured. It has been examined two interviews at the beginning and the end of the second semester to measure the effect of Korean language learning. As a result of this research, It can be realized that multicultural children who have similar linguistic characteristics and cultural sphere understood Korean language easily when they take the Korean language class by utilizing a robot, and the class had an effect on the acquisition of Korean language for multicultural children.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.1 no.3
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• pp.3-18
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• 2009

Do loanword properties emerge in the acquisition of a foreign language and if so, how? Classic studies in adult language learning assumed loanword properties that range from near-ceiling to near-chance level of appearance depending on speech proficiency. The present research argues that such variations reflect different phonological types, rather than speech proficiency. To investigate the difference between learner speech and loanword phonology, the current research analyzes the speech data from five different proficiency levels of 92 Korean speakers who read 19 pairs of English words and sentences that contained loanwords. The experimental method is primarily an acoustical one, by which the phonological cause in the loanwords (e.g., the insertion of [$\Box$] at the end of the word stamp) would be attested to appear in learner speech, in comparison with native speech from 11 English speakers and 11 Korean speakers. The data investigated for the research are of segment deletion, insertion, substitution, and alternation in both learner speech and the native speech. The results indicate that learner speech does not present the loanword properties in many cases, but depends on the types of phonological causes. The relatively easy acquisition of target pronunciation is evidenced in the cases of segment deletion, insertion, substitution, and alternation, except when the loanword property involves the successful command of the target phonology such as the de-aspiration of [p] in apple. Such a case of difficult learning draws a sharp distinction from the cases of easy learning in the development of learner speech, particularly beyond the intermediate level of proficiency. Overall, learner speech departs from loanword phonology and develops toward the native speech value, depending on phonological contrasts in the native and foreign languages.