In the early reading stage, readers should be supported both orally and conceptually so that they are equipped with the basic skills and knowledge about word recognition. Thus, a lack of systematic support in the early reading developmental stage impedes the natural growth of reading ability. This article investigated how children were supported in reading from their teachers in the primary English classrooms. To accomplish this purpose, eleven reading-focused classrooms were analysed. Observations, video recordings, and interviews were conducted for data collection. Field notes and checklists were also used during the observations. Qualitative analyses revealed that children were poorly supported in learning to read: teachers used few limited teaching techniques and their uses were not effective on reading. The data from the interviews revealed that teachers were rarely trained for reading instruction, and that they possessed a limited knowledge about the English language system as well as about the reading development of young learners. Hence, the teachers' poor background knowledge and lack of skills led to less effective reading instruction. Based on these findings, it is suggested that teachers require training such as in basic knowledge about the English writing system and reading development in order to deliver effective reading instruction to early readers.

This study aims to investigate the current status regarding the utilization of native English teachers in elementary schools focusing on its benefits and problems and to explore better ways of utilizing them for elementary English education. The participants of this study were 1024 elementary school students, 80 Korean elementary English teachers, and 56 native teachers of English. The data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Through the analysis of data the followings were revealed: 1) the native teachers of English considered that their working conditions including wages and the amount of teaching time were appropriate, but the pre-training program was not satisfactory; 2) the Korean English teachers felt that their workload related to native teachers of English was too heavy; 3) the students perceived that studying English with native teachers of English had positive effects on their English abilities in terms of cognitive and affective aspects; 4) in most schools team teaching between native teachers of English and Korean teachers were being performed and both teachers were satisfied with it; 5) however, several issues such as the role relationship between the Korean English teachers and the native teachers of English, the quality of pre-training, and reconstruction of teaching materials should be resolved in order to improve English program of utilizing native English-speaking teachers in elementary schools.

This study explores an exemplary case of an English immersion program originally initiated by some primary school teachers. It investigates how an immersion education was initiated by the members of an English teachers" study group and later supported by a provincial office of education. The contents of the program and the three examples of immersion classes are briefly illustrated and commented. The innovative endeavors for the successful execution of the immersion classes include the use of the daily morning English practice and various ways of exposing students to English. It was found from the interview conducted with 5 immersion teachers that the strong motivation of the immersion teachers was the first empowering factor for this program and the appropriate financial and administrative help from the provincial office of education was another crucial one. Several practical problems from implementing the immersion program are also reported. From these results and findings some suggestions are made for better ways for implementing immersion programs in elementary schools.

The present evaluation research was conducted to provide program decision makers with judgements about the intensive in-service teacher training (INSET) program"s worth or merits in relation to important criteria. It also purports to provide program staffs with useful information in improving their INSET programs. Setting boundaries and analyzing the context were followed by the procedure of identifying and selecting the evaluation questions and criteria. The overview of recent developments in English language teacher training provided the underlying principle for setting the criteria for evaluation. The criteria were used to describe the characteristics of a successful language teacher training program or implementation. They included features such as goals, curriculum, personnel, and support. Using the specified checklist, evaluation was carried out on the current intensive English language teacher training courses. Information on each area of the checklist was collected from available sources, analyzed and interpreted qualitatively as well as quantitatively. From the findings of the present evaluation study, some implications are drawn for making policies on INSET, for improving the teacher training programs under investigation, and for establishing and operating similar INSET programs.

This article investigates the content knowledge and beliefs of primary school teachers about reading instruction from the Shulman’s ‘pedagogical content knowledge’ view, and explores the realities of reading instruction in the classroom. For the purpose, questionnaires were used. The questions were consisted of three areas: items for in-class reading instruction, teacher’s belief on reading, and teacher’s content knowledge about reading. The data revealed that the primary school teachers have insufficient content knowledge for reading instruction, particularly in word analysis skills such as phonemic awareness, letter sound relationships, word frequency, and other topics related to reading. However, teachers’beliefs were different from their knowledge. Whereas their content knowledge about phonics, reading aloud, or story-based reading method is lower, they believe that those skills are effective for reading. It was also found that the realities of reading classroom were different from teachers’ beliefs. Although teachers believe that rich print environment facilitates the learners’ reading development, the print environments were little provided and they did not refer to print for their teaching. The result of analysis suggests that teacher training which focuses on reading instruction needs to be emphasized for effective reading instruction.

The present study aims to develop a web-based model for English teacher evaluation, which purports to encourage a teacher to get actively involved in his or her own professional development through critical reflection upon teaching. The evaluation model using portfolio is based on the assumption that the teacher should play a key role in the evaluation process in order to bring about change in teaching. Another theoretical premise of the model is that data on teaching should be gathered from multiple sources such as observation, student performance and self-appraisal. The web-based model encourages stakeholders, e.g., administrators, headteachers, parents, to take part in the evaluation process. The model reflects the findings of a questionnaire survey on teachers’ perceptions on teacher evaluation and their needs. It is suggested that a number of factors related to administration, technology and content should be considered for the effective application of the model. Some suggestions are also made concerning evaluator training, time constraints, institutional support, and further research.

There is little research on the users of dictionaries in Korea. The user research, however, is essential to developing better dictionaries. Hence, this study aims to explore the actual conditions regarding Korean English teachers’ general use of English dictionaries. English teachers were chosen as the subjects because they instruct the use of dictionaries to other users, especially students, as well as use dictionary themselves. Thirty teachers from elementary, middle and high schools respectively (total 90) participated in this research. The research was conducted using questionnaires that consisted of two main parts: The first part was designed to analyze the teachers’ use of dictionaries and the second part aimed to investigate the teachers’ instruction on the use of dictionaries. The data were coded and factors were examined by means of quantitative analysis. It was found that English teachers in Korea used Korean-English and English-English dictionaries which are well structured and easy to use with full contents in order to prepare teaching materials and develop handouts other than text books. In addition, most of teachers said that students must be taught how to use dictionaries in the first grade of junior high school.

Since the introduction of teaching English as a regular subject into primary schools in 1997, it has been said that the discrepancy between students who are receiving private instruction at learning institutions and private tutoring and those who are not receiving private English instruction is steadily increasing. The purpose of this study was to investigate what impact private English instruction had on English achievement and attitudes of fifth- and sixth-grade students in primary schools. For this purpose, an English achievement test was developed based on the 7th National Curriculum and administered, along with two attitude questionnaires: One questionnaire was administered to 696 fifth- and sixth-grade primary school students, and the other questionnaire given to 12 primary school teachers of the students. The results showed that students started learning English at the average age 7.9-years-old and about 80% of the students were receiving a variety of private English instruction. In line with expectations, tutored students outperformed non-tutored students on the English achievement test. In addition most of the teachers, as well as students, thought it helpful to learn English through private English instruction. One implication from the results suggests that to ensure quality English language teaching at public schools, the government should put forth efforts to nurture qualified English teachers through intensive teacher training.

English is now commonly called an international or a global language. Korea starts to face some changes in terms of the situational and functional status of English from EFL to ESL. A bilingual education approach called 'immersion education' to teach English is urgently needed to be taken in Korea, especially in the primary school level. The present paper aims to investigate perceptions of primary school teachers about the introduction of English immersion education program. A total of 171 primary school teachers were surveyed employing a questionnaire asking about their knowledge, opinions and attitudes with regard to the introduction of English immersion education in primary schools in Korea. It was found that there are lots of things to take into consideration introducing the English immersion education system in the areas of preor in-service teacher training system, governmental assistance, and other practical issues of deciding starting grade and the subjects for immersion, for example. Some suggestions are provided for a practical guide for the introduction of English immersion education.

Despite the Ministry of Education's policy, early childhood English education has been widely conducted among private kindergartens and in private English Education agencies. Although there are a great number of English teachers who are teaching English to young children, few research has been done about their working conditions. Thus, the purpose of this study is to investigate the working conditions of early childhood English teachers, to determine the problems that they are facing in the education field, and to find out the possible solutions to improve their working conditions. Sixty-seven teachers answered the survey. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were done. This research found that teachers have difficulties in attracting children's attention when they teach English in the classroom, and in developing appropriate teaching techniques. It also found that their working conditions were not good enough to keep them doing this job. In spite of poor conditions, they are proud to be teachers. It was found that the subjects wished to have a medical insurance, a secured income, and to be free from extra teaching activities, such as textbooks sales and collecting monthly fees. They would like to have an opportunity to learn new teaching techniques through in-service teacher training. They also insisted that the Ministry of Education should face the current situation by giving them a chance to become certified teachers.

The purpose of this study is to investigate some problems about College Scholastic Ability Test(CSAT) on English listening and suggest its new approaches in the future. A survey, which was composed of 48 English teachers and 63 college students, was conducted to know about their opinions of the listening test. The results are as follows. First, the listening test is very important in learning English language, but it is not required to spend much time and efforts in listening class on account of its unvaried question pattern and lack of transferring into speaking ability. Second, the test should increase the number of the question and its total score. Third, it is necessary to provide the various questions related to the real life of English speaking countries implying not only linguistic knowledge but also non-linguistic knowledge like situation, socio-cultural background, and world knowledge. Fourth, sound phenomena may also be an important part in the listening test.