This study examined effects of pronunciation training using automatic speech recognition technology on common pronunciation errors of Korean English learners. Participants were divided into two groups. One group was given instruction and training about the use of automatic speech recognition for pronunciation practice. The other group was not given such instruction or training as a control group. A pre- and post-test experimental design was used. The treatment period was four weeks. Participants who were taught about using automatic speech recognition for pronunciation practice showed small but significant improvements in pronunciation accuracy than those who did not. In addition, automatic speech recognition was found to assist in the diagnostic evaluation of common pronunciation errors, although it did not produce statistically significant improvements. Participants responded positively to the use of automatic speech recognition for pronunciation practice and testing, although there remain some concerns over technical aspects of the test.

The special law for making Jeju a free international city was implemented in 2001 to develop Jeju an important hub for international tourism. Jeju has been changed into a free international city attracting many foreign tourists, so English has been an important communication tool in Jeju. Also, Jeju has provided top quality English education by attracting world-prestigious international schools to enhance English education competitiveness. However, little attention has been paid on non-linguistic outcomes including English learners' identities changes occurred in the English learning experiences. This study proves that it is important to consider the influence of language learning on learners’ identities changes in the English learning process. The contradictory individual learner’s identity shows that teachers and educational institutions should not only train students’ language skills, but also be aware that L2 learning is closely connected to learners’ identity construction.

The contributions of teachers in building foundation of social processes, promoting learners’ agency and engagements have been constantly highlighted. This study explores language socialization of English Language Learners (ELLs) in an elementary school in U.S., focusing on the role of an ESL teacher. It examines how the ESL teacher provides linguistic and cultural scaffolding, and creates a learning environment conducive to ELLs’ socialization into American school academic discourse (Gee, 1999). A prevalent approach for linguistic scaffolding was through using questions. Questions were used for assessment, identifying prior knowledge, current understanding level, and potential level for future development, and to train ELLs to think critically and analytically. Cultural scaffolding was made through classroom scripts, such as whole group and small group activities, individual work with teacher assistance, and working locations in the classrooms. The classroom script projected American values of power functioning, respect for individuals, and freedom of choice. The findings imply that ESL learners need more than linguistic scaffolding and having the knowledge of cultural learning dynamics could be crucial in multicultural students’ socialization into the mainstream American school discourse.

The study investigated the effect of the flipped class method implemented in a general English program in the tertiary level. The treatment variable of the experiment was a teaching method: a flipped class for the experimental group and a traditional class for the control group. A total of 13 class sessions were completed. The model of the experiment was a nested design with repeated measures. The dependent variables were positive affective experience, negative affective experience, class satisfaction, and language achievement. This study analyzed the data using factorial analysis, t-test, and repeated measures analysis of variance. The results showed that learners in the experimental group improved their positive experience during the treatment through statistically significant differences in pre-test and post-test scores; while the control group did not. The negative experience decreased at the end of the class in both groups. Although the mean differences were not statistically significant, the mean of the negative experience in the experimental group was lower than that in the control group. The class satisfaction was significantly different between the two groups. The experimental group improved language achievement on their final exam, while the control group’s mean decreased.

This paper aims to provide guidelines on developing English language proficiency (ELP) tests based on the experience from ELP assessments in the U.S. after the implementation of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). While there might be substantial differences between the content and purpose of ELP tests developed from country to country, there are, however, areas that experts in charge of ELP test development in other countries can benefit from. The NCLB legislation in the U.S. made the assessment of English language learners (ELL) students’ level of proficiency in English mandatory once a year and provided useful guidelines for developing ELP assessments. This mandate, along with its useful guidelines, helped improve the quality of ELP assessment significantly and led to the development of several batteries of ELP assessments either through consortia of states or by test publishers in the U.S. The newly developed assessments were based on states’ ELP standards. They incorporated the concept of academic language which is an essential requirement for ELL students’ performance in the academic content areas, and were tested in extensive pilot and field studies. Some implications were drawn from such improvements for ELL assessment and accountability not only in the U.S. but in other countries including Korea.

This article presents an initial review of research (published in English) on the impact, internationally, of English as an additional language (EAL) provision in the school sector. The impact is on English language learners (ELL): children and young people for whom English is an additional language and who are thought to need extra help with English to succeed in the school system. The review looks not only at the impact on children and young people, but also at the nature and efficacy of the teacher workforce, concluding that there are several gaps in provision and in research in the field.

This article focuses on English language assessment for young learners in Korea questioning how far the special needs of young language learners (YLL) are being catered by the current English language assessments. First of all, this paper identifies the distinctive characteristics of young learners and the related assessments and provides several examples in the European context to explore how European programs apply the distinctive conditions of YLL on the assessing practices at schools. Secondly, four tests of oral proficiency which are currently administered in Korea (SEPT-general vs. SEPT-Junior; ESPT-general vs. ESPT-Junior) are explored to compare how the assessments for YLL take account of the special characteristics of young learners. Test content is analyzed on item types, test criteria and level descriptors. Lastly, suggestions are made based on the analysis of the assessments. It is hoped that this research paper provides meaningful implications on the YLL test development in Korea.