Han characters may be taught both as components of the mother tongue as well as elements of certain foreign languages. This paper centres on understanding approaches to the teaching of writing of Han characters as an aspect of foreign language learning. The mastery of Han characters may be considered a key objective in mother-tongue as well as foreign language teaching in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Japan, but is only considered as foreign language teaching in Korea. However, the written forms taught in schools in the five above-mentioned locations differ markedly from one another. Japan has strict stipulations about written forms of Japanese; the governments of China, Taiwan and Hong Kong adhere to prescribed benchmarks on the written form of Han characters; while Korea only sets requirements on fonts. Although Hong Kong supposedly has a recommended benchmark, differences in written forms can be found in primary and secondary school textbooks. This leads to problems in teaching and assessment since few teachers have a comprehensive understanding on the difference in written forms of Han characters found in Hong Kong and elsewhere in South-East Asia. This paper looks at differences in the written forms of Han characters in the five regions mentioned above, and at some of the issues associated with these differences.
This study looks at the employment of negotiation about form by a pair of advanced English L2 users engaged in collaborative composition tasks, and compares their negotiation with that of a beginner English L2 pair. Contrary to the increasing interest in negotiation for meaning within the L2 literature, there is little research that investigates how learners interact in negotiation about form contexts, where learners are required to explicitly talk about the form that they encounter. In particular, few studies have been conducted with learners at different proficiency levels in such contexts. Recognising this paucity, the study presents a holistic analysis of learners' negotiation about form generated by learners at different proficiency levels. This means that first, the negotiation about form was quantified in terms of language-related episodes (LREs); second, the same data was examined via an in-depth, descriptive analysis; third, delayed post-tests were conducted on specific linguistic items produced via negotiation about form. The study does not find much difference in LREs between the two proficiency levels of learners or convincing evidence that LREs lead to L2 learning at all. The results also reveal limitations in the relationship between the interactions engaged in and eventual learning. (196 words)
This study investigated the relationship among foreign language learning anxiety, achievement goals, and multidimensional perfectionism.Incorporating approach and avoidance into mastery goal and performance goal, a 2X2 framework of achievement goals comprised mastery approach, mastery avoidance, performance approach, and performance avoidance in this article. Three factors, self-oriented, others-oriented, and socially-prescribed perfectionism, were explored to understand the relationship between perfectionism and foreign language learning anxiety. Results indicated that all factors of achievement goals and only socially-prescribed perfectionism were correlated to the foreign language learning anxiety. Analysis of the regression between the scale of language learning anxiety and the other factors showed that master approach, mastery avoidance, and performance approach could predict the language learning anxiety significantly
This study investigates a teacher"s practice regarding how Dynamic Assessment (Dixon-Krauss, 1996) is realized in his evaluative activities in a language classroom. First of all, the study pinpoints eight properties of dynamic assessment, and operationally defines and classifies the teacher"s evaluative activities into 6 categories: prior knowledge check, assignment review, task comprehension check, task customization, instance quiz, and achievement check. Furthermore, the study examines how the teacher"s evaluative activities are worked out for a small group of children who are learning their heritage language (Korean). The effectiveness and potentiality of dynamic assessment for a language classroom organized by special purposes are also discussed.
The purpose of this study was to explore optimal flow experiences of students in an online learning environment for the Chinese language. Based on prior studies, the study adapted the framework of flow theory which consists of 9 sub-factors: challenge, awareness, goal-oriented, feedback, concentration, control, self-consciousness, sense of time, and intrinsic rewarding. The study showed that students had flow experiences in an online learning environment for the Chinese language. The findings by correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis indicated that all the sub-factors of the flow construct are positively co-related to overall learning satisfaction as well as students" perceptions on online learning processes and their task accomplishments. In particular, one flow sub-factor is called "control" was identified to have more predictive power to explain perceived satisfaction for online foreign language learning, which might eventually influence students" actual learning outcomes.
한자와 한자어는 우리말을 형성하고 있는 중요한 요소이며,한자와 한자어를 떠난 언어생활은 상상할 수 없다.우리의 언어생활에서 한자와 한자어가 비록 문자 언어로서 기능하고 있지만 그 쓰임은 구두 언어와 다름없다고 할 수 있다.본고는 언어 학습의 이론 가운데 하나인 스키마 이론과 문식성 이론에 기반을 두고 한자 교육을 논의하였다.먼저 독자의 인지 구조로서 ‘사전 지식’또는 ‘배경 지식’의 의미를 지닌 스키마(scheme)이론에 근거하여 한자․한문 스키마를 활성화시킬 수 있는 방법을 살펴보았다.한자․한문 스키마의 활성화는 국어 교육에서 읽기 교육의 스키마 활성화 방법을 원용하여 고찰하였는데,그 방법으로 질문하기,연상하기,예측하기,추론하기 등을 활용하였다.이와 같은 한자․한문 스키마 활성화는 학습자들이 능동적으로 텍스트를 이해할 수 있는 힘을 길러준다.또한 교사들에게 텍스트를 학습하기 전과 학습하는 중간,학습한 후의 활동이 각각 중요한 것이라는 인식을 하게 한다.그 결과 교사들은 텍스트를 교수하는데 동기 부여 활동이 매우 중요하다는 생각을 갖게 된다.다음으로 文識性(literacy)이론에 근거하여 한자․한문에서의 문식성을 정의하였다.본고에서는 한자․한문의 문식성이란 ‘文字의 解讀(decoding)과 意味의 理解’라고 정의하였다.한자의 음과 뜻을 알아야 한자어의 음과 뜻을 알 수 있고,이를 토대로 한문 문장이나 한시를 이해할 수 있으므로 한자․한문 교육에서는 일차적으로 한자를 읽고 뜻을 이해하는 것이 중요한 과제라고 본 것이다.본고에서는 한자의 문식성 능력을 키우기 위해 한자의 형․음․의를 식별하는 학습 방법과 그림에 맞는 한자․한자어를 연관지어 학습하는 방법을 제시하였다.학습자들이 言語를 통해 知識을 구성한다는 構成主義와 관련하여 기초 기능 수준의 문식성(minimallevelofliteracyskills)과 고등 기능 수준의 문식성(highlevelofliteracyskills)을 살펴보았다.기초 기능 수준의 문식성이란 메시지 전달의 매체인 글을 읽어 낱낱의 語彙나 文章의 意味를 讀解하는 내용 위주의 읽기와 머리 속에 떠오르는 대로 생각을 글자로 옮기는 단순한 쓰기 수준의 문식성을 말한다.한문과 敎育課程과 관련하여 볼 때,①한자의 음과 뜻 알기 ②자전에서 한자의 음과 뜻 찾기 ③한자로 이루어진 한자어를 이해하고,언어생활에 활용하기 ④한자를 이용하여 문장의 내용 이해하기 ⑤한자어의 음과 뜻 알기 ⑥한자어를 바르게 읽고 쓰기 ⑦학습한 한자어를 언어생활에 활용하기 등이 기초 기능 수준의 한문 문식성이라고 할 수 있다.고등 기능 수준의 문식성이란 글을 읽고 글의 내용이나 구조를 학습자 나름대로 構成하고 分析하고 批判하는 수준의 문식성을 말한다.한문과 교육과정과 관련하여 볼 때,①한자의 음과 뜻을 한자의 짜임을 통해 알기 ②한자어의 짜임을 통해 한자어를 바르게 이해하기 ③성어를 풀이하고 속 뜻 이해하기 ④한자어에 담긴 선인들의 삶과 지혜 이해하기 ⑤격언․속담,명언․명구를 풀이하고 일상생활에 활용하기 ⑥한문에 담긴 선인들의 삶과 지혜 이해하기 ⑦문장의 형식을 알고 문장 풀이에 활용하기 등이라고 할 수 있다.본 논의는 언어학습 이론을 한자 교육에 적용해 본 시론적 탐색이라고 할 수 있다.한자․한자어․한문이 우리 언어생활에서 사라진 언어가 아니라 살아있는 언어로서 기능하고 있기에 언어 학습 이론과 한자 교육을 접맥시키려는 노력이 필요한 것이다.
The theory of Task-based Approach has effected the teaching field greatly after it was put forward, which is regarded as the most effective means for language training currently. Teaching Chinese to foreigners as a second language can also draw lessons from this theory. This paper aims to explore the application of Task-based Approach in Chinese teaching by teaching practice.
Grounded in the positioning theory and the notion of transaction, this study examined two first grade English language learners in the ESL classroom in a North American elementary school. The research aimed at exploring 1) how the two children participated in the ESL classroom and developed positioning, and 2) what the patterns and paths of the students’ positioning told about their learning English. Observation of the two children in the classroom and extensive field notes were the main data for the study. The analysis of the data revealed contrasting paths of positioning the two children took up in the process of making transaction with the teacher and the classroom lesson acts. The study has several suggestions for researchers, educators, and parents.
This study explores whether there are any differences between monolingual Korean and bilingual Korean-Chinese university students in terms of their beliefs about language learning. The Beliefs about Language Learning Inventory (BALLI, Horwitz, 1987) was distributed to university students in Korea and China to identify learners’ beliefs about language learning. Monolingual Korean and bilingual Korean-Chinese students reported similar opinions about foreign language aptitude and difficulty of language learning. The study also found that Korean-Chinese students were more confident than Korean students about their special ability for learning a new language. In addition, more Korean students than Korean-Chinese students reported that they felt timid in speaking English with native speakers or with other people. Because this study is the first research attempt to compare the differences in beliefs about language learning between monolingual and bilingual EFL learners, the results of this study should provide significant information about and implications for teaching and learning a foreign language by comparing the behaviors and thoughts of Korean and Korean-Chinese university students.
With the emergence of sociolinguistic approach in second language learning, instructors have begun to acknowledge the native language (L1) as a legitimate tool with the potential to facilitate second language (L2) learning mainly in output-based tasks. This study focuses on how the use of L1 by L2 learners affects their task achievement. Two communicative tasks were used, and tasks were carried out by 32 high school students in L2 only, or in L1 and L2 during group test sessions held on different days. Tape-recorded transcripts of learners when performing the tasks, interviews, and questionnaires were collected and analysed to investigate effect on the use of L1. The findings suggest that during performing the tasks, learners used their L1 to complete their tasks for a variety of functions. Through the L1, they explained and negotiated the task each other, or checked their understanding or compared answers to the task against their peers. To allow the learners to use of their L1 was even more effective than to urge them to use L2 only in a foreign language class using task. Further investigation indicates that, if one of goals of output-based introduction is considered as the successful completion of the task, the learners’ use of L1 may be beneficial to attain the goal when performing completely in L2 is impossible or beyond the learners’ linguistic ability.
Past 20 years have witnessed the shift of focus in language teaching from teacher-oriented to learner-centered approach. Although there have been several research studies on cooperative learning, they were limited to the defining of its constructs and pedagogical values, and the surveying of teachers’ beliefs and their practices at school. This paper looks into the experiences that a teacher had in the attempt to change her teaching practice with cooperative learning techniques applied in an EFL reading class. It was also an effort to improve from her previous teaching method which had been grammar-translation mixed with a task-based approach. The process of a teacher’s implementation of a newly adopted class approach including decision-making, operating, interpreting/reflecting is shared through the first-person action research. Various data sources were presented to assess the legitimacy of accepting cooperative learning via group work as a valuable, viable instructional method in the real language classroom. A detailed description of a teacher’s experiences in the self-transforming process is provided along with guidelines to make classrooms successful cooperative language learning places.
Effective foreign language learning accompanies the learning of the target language’s culture. But English is said to be not a foreign language, but a global language. What should culture learning be like in teaching English as a global language (EGL)? This paper aims to make some suggestions for the directions of cultural learning in EGL. First, the features of EGL learning are explored in comparison with those of EFL learning. Second, it is discussed why EGL learning does not match the communicative competence on which the communicative approach has been based. Instead EGL learning needs intercultural communicative competence (ICC). Third, it is considered what culture education should take into account for ICC. The main section seeks out the ways in which cultural contents involved in teaching materials contribute to develop ICC. Four (4) series of Korean middle school English textbooks are analysed in respect of the ownership of cultures, the types of culture and the cultural activities, from the intercultural perspective. The result admits the cultural contents of the textbook are not suitable for developing ICC. Finally, some directions will be deduced on how and what teaching materials are equipped to develop ICC in teaching English as a global language.
This study attempts to examine the existence of foreign language anxiety in e-Learning situations, and then identify relationships between the anxiety and learner background factors. A total of 162 EFL learners participated in the survey. Their anxiety was measured by the e-Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale (e-FLCAS). The results suggest that foreign language learners do indeed experience anxiety in e-Learning classrooms. A majority of the participants acknowledged having experienced specific kinds of anxiety in cyber classes: worry over e-Learning education, online test anxiety, learning style conflicts, and apprehension of native teachers. In addition, e-Learning anxiety was found to be significantly related to three background factors (gender, academic backgrounds, and English proficiency). The results also provide a potential explanation of anxiety-producing contexts in cyber classrooms, the sources of anxiety, and coping strategies that students use to lower their anxiety.