This study examined subject-auxiliary inversion errors in wh-questions produced by 88 Korean EFL elementary learners, focusing on whether types of wh-words and auxiliaries could affect inversion acquisition and whether explicit instruction on movement rules could facilitate this process. Guided writing tasks were used as a pretest and a posttest to analyze influence of wh-words and auxiliaries on learners’ inversion in the pretest and effects of instruction on movement rules in the posttest. Results showed that both whwords and auxiliaries significantly influenced learners’ inversion acquisition. Learners struggled more with why-questions than with what-questions, which were selected as representatives of adjunct and argument wh-questions, respectively. More inversion errors occurred in wh-questions requiring do-support than in those involving auxiliary be or modal will, although no significant difference was found between be and will. Experimental lessons with brief explicit instruction on auxiliary movement during regular classes significantly improved learners’ inversion accuracy, particularly in dosupport questions, which posed the greatest challenge in the pretest.
The current study is designed to investigate the use of classwide peer tutoring for controlled grammar practice activities in a university English as a Foreign Language classrooms. In total, this study included 128 Korean university student participants. This research employed a quasi-experimental approach with two distinct groups. Across four different grammar lessons, 67 learner participants experienced classwide peer tutoring, while 59 learner participants experienced the traditional approach to controlled grammar practice activities. In doing so, the effectiveness of the two teaching approaches, as well as student perceptions, were analyzed. The results indicated no difference in the effectiveness between classwide peer tutoring or the traditional approach in the short-term or long-term. Furthermore, the results showed there was no significant difference between lower proficiency students and higher proficiency students. However, the results did indicate students found classwide peer tutoring to be more satisfying, interesting, and comfortable than the traditional approach to controlled grammar practice activities. Implications and classroom suggestions from these findings are included.
This study investigates the effectiveness of self-correction in improving lexical stress placement among Korean English learners, a critical yet challenging feature for speakers of Korean, which lacks lexical stress contrasts. Grounded in Schmidt’s (1990) Noticing Hypothesis, the research compares the benefits of self-correction— where learners reflect on and correct their own pronunciation errors —with the shadowing technique. Forty-seven college students participated, with an experimental group practicing self-correction and a control group engaged in shadowing. Pre- and post-test analyses revealed that the self-correction group demonstrated significantly greater improvement, particularly with trisyllabic and tetrasyllabic words, while the shadowing group showed minimal change. These findings highlight self-correction’s role in promoting learner engagement, error awareness, and deeper cognitive processing, offering practical implications for pronunciation instruction that emphasizes learner autonomy and focused attention.
Korean English medium instruction (EMI) classes aim to foster active discussions and communicative interactions in English between instructors and students. However, many Korean students in these classes struggle due to their limited English proficiency. This paper examines the challenges faced by Korean EFL students in EMI environments, highlighting the necessity for support in both English and their native language to facilitate effective learning. It also identifies teaching strategies that have proven effective in helping these students navigate language barriers. The findings indicate that participants had difficulty developing their writing skills for assignments in EMI settings and encountered limited opportunities to communicate their understanding of course material with instructors. To address these challenges, it is important to assess students’ language skills and find a balance between Korean and English. Implementing flexible teaching methods can enhance the learning experience, making it more effective and supportive. By providing multiple approaches to learning, such as interactive activities or peer support, learning gaps can be bridged and overall educational outcomes enhanced.
This study analyzed inductive and deductive instructional approaches for teaching grammar within a Presentation-Practice-Production grammar lesson. The participants of this study included 119 Korean university students enrolled in an English as a foreign language class, with approximately half receiving deductive instruction and the other half receiving inductive grammar instruction. The analysis involved comparing learning gains as well as student perceptions of the two approaches via Mann Whitney U tests. The results showed no statistical difference in terms of the immediate or delayed learning gains for each grammatical topic, nor when all grammatical topics were aggregated. However, the analysis of student perceptions indicated that students found inductive instruction to be moderately more effective, interesting, and easier than deductive instruction. The study concludes with a discussion of the implications of these findings related to instructional practices in foreign language classes that utilize the Presentation- Practice-Production model as well as suggestions for future research concerning deductive and inductive instructional approaches.
This study examines the beliefs and practices regarding performance assessment among Korean English teachers in secondary schools. A survey was conducted with 109 teachers using a 52-item online questionnaire to investigate the extent to which teachers’ beliefs align with their instructional practices and to categorize them based on these criteria. Although teachers acknowledge the pedagogical advantages of performance assessment, a significant gap exists between their beliefs and actual implementation, primarily due to the considerable time required for its execution. Teachers with longer tenure and higher qualifications demonstrated a more positive and effective application of performance assessment. The findings highlight the necessity for targeted professional development to enhance teachers’ use of performance assessment strategies, especially for those who are skeptical about their effectiveness. Such initiatives are essential for bridging the gap between beliefs and practices, fostering an environment that promotes the effective use of performance assessment, and ultimately improving teaching quality and student learning outcomes in Korean English education.
Motivated by the effort of diagnostic interventions for EFL learners in Korean educational contexts, this study aims to identify heterogeneous L2 reading skill profiles among students attending the same school. Subsequently, it investigates the impact of learners’ L2 learning backgrounds on heterogeneity of these reading skills. Using Latent Profile Analysis on 234 vocational high school students, we identified four distinct profiles: Profile 1, severely weak L2 readers with very low decoding and syntactic knowledge; Profile 2, moderately weak L2 readers; Profile 3, above-average L2 readers; and Profile 4, fairly well-developed L2 readers with good vocabulary breadth. Multinomial regression analysis revealed that profile membership was significantly predicted by positive past learning experiences, extra-curricular English reading, and motivational attitudes. These findings underscore the significant heterogeneity in L2 reading skills within the seemingly homogeneous EFL group and highlight the critical association with past and current educational experiences, emphasizing the importance of tailored interventions based on individual learning histories.
This study investigates the listening comprehension performance of Korean university students when exposed to unscripted and scripted English speech, as well as their perceptions of various linguistic features associated with each speech type. A total of 115 participants were divided into two groups, both of which had the same level of listening proficiency. The unscripted group listened to spontaneous, unscripted dialogues during the listening comprehension test, while the scripted group listened to scripted versions from which features typical of unscripted speech had been removed. Following the listening test, participants completed a questionnaire assessing their perceived level of difficulty regarding a range of features that typically distinguish the two speech types. The results revealed that the unscripted group scored significantly lower on the listening test compared to the scripted group. Additionally, the survey indicated that participants found unscripted speech significantly more challenging, especially due to factors such as pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. Features typical of unscripted speech, including filled pauses, false starts, and a natural speech rate, were identified as obstacles to L2 listening comprehension. Based on these findings, the study suggests implications for L2 learning materials, instructional methods, assessment practices, and teacher education programs.
This study investigates the effect of team-teaching between Korean English teachers and native speakers of English on English learning anxiety. A total of 248 elementary students in grade 6 participated in this study. One group of students were taught by Korean English teachers and native speakers of English while the other group never had the opportunity to speak with a native speaker in class. A survey questionnaire based on FLCAS (Foreign Language Classroom Anxiety Scale) was newly developed to investigate how the two groups showed differences in English learning anxiety in class. The exploratory factor analysis was undertaken to suggest a three-factor solution. The two groups showed differences in English classroom anxiety and confidence in communication with native English speakers. On the other hand, fear of negative evaluation did not show any significant differences between the two groups. The students who experienced team-teaching showed more confidence in communication with native speakers only at a rudimentary level. Therefore, native English-speaking teachers should make their efforts to develop the skills to promote students’ confidence and higher level of communicative abilities.
This study examined the effects of creating English picture books using generative artificial intelligence (AI) on Korean high school students’ reading and writing skills, AI literacy, and self-efficacy. Forty-five students were divided into two groups and participated in tasks that included selecting a character from English-speaking cultures, generating images using Bing Image Creator, drafting and revising stories with ChatGPT, and creating audiobooks with ClovaDubbing. Reading and writing skills were evaluated using pre- and post-tests, and AI literacy as well as affective factors, including selfefficacy, were measured through surveys. The results indicated a significant improvement in students’ writing skills and self-efficacy, whereas reading skills did not demonstrate statistically significant progress. The study underscores the potential of generative AI as a tool for enhancing writing skills, AI literacy, and self-efficacy in language learning. However, it also emphasizes the need for further pedagogical efforts to design instructional strategies that effectively improve reading skills. These findings offer practical guidance for integrating generative AI into EFL education to enhance language learning and AI literacy.
본 연구는 19세기 후반과 20세기 초반에 한국에서 활동한 외국인 선교사들이 편찬한 5종의 영한 사전에 나타난 질병명을 분석한다. 이 근대이중어사전들의 질병명은 서구 과학 지식이 동아시아로 급속히 유입되면서 한국에서 새로운 의학 용어의 필요성 을 반영한다. 질병명의 정확한 번역은 공중 보건에 중요했으며, 당시의 의학 지식과 인식 을 반영하기 때문이었다. 본 연구는 5개 근대영한사전을 개요하고 46개의 질병어를 선택 한 기준을 기술했다. 또한, 전염병 관련 질병명이 다수를 차지하는 이유를 당시의 정부의 전염병 예방 규칙 과 관련하여 살펴보았다. 또한 1925년 사전에 새로 추가된 용어, 과거 와 현재 질병명의 공존을 조사한다. 아울러, 고유어 번역, 1925년 사전과 현대 사전 간의 번역 연속성, 현대에서 음역된 질병명 등의 분석을 통해 문화적, 사회적 맥락을 탐구한 다. 이 연구는 한중일 질병명의 역사적 변천과 상호 교류를 근대이중어사전을 통해 제시 하였다.
This paper aims to investigate how and to what extent ‘critical’ global citizenship is reflected in middle school English textbooks in Korea. Framed within Freire’s concept of critical literacy, the study is concerned with analyzing the written texts in two English textbooks, with a focus on the issue of representations. Using critical content analysis, the research centers on unpacking how race, racism, or racialization, especially in the United States, is represented, and to what extent these representations may be associated with global citizenship education in English language learning. The major findings indicate a notable absence of sufficient sociohistorical and cultural contexts of race in the United States as presented in the concerned English textbooks. Based on the analysis, this paper calls for an expansion of the dimensions of critical global citizenship in English language learning settings, aiming to provide students with broader opportunities to question colonial discourse and challenge issues related to power and systemic oppression.
This study analyzed the patterns of relative clauses (RCs) used on the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), a standardized test for college admissions in Korea. The researchers investigated the Noun Phrase Accessibility Hierarchy and the impact of the antecedent’s animacy on RCs. Also, it was explored how NPs in the subject position of object RCs affected language processing, specifically, the condition where relativizers were omitted and the reasons for producing passive subject RCs. Data were collected from the CSAT and mock tests from 2019 to 2023. The analysis of 622 RCs yielded the following results: First, the frequency of RCs appeared in the following order: subject RCs, object RCs, then OBL. Second, the object RCs showed a preference for inanimate antecedents whereas the subject RCs used did not show a preference for animate antecedents. Third, NPs in the subject position with sentences containing object RCs predominantly took the form of pronouns, with common nouns used less frequently.
기후위기, 전지구적 팬데믹의 시대에 세계와 인간의 관계가 생태적으 로 재구성되어야 한다는 사회‧문화적 요구와 학문적 필요성이 제기됨에 따라 본 논문은 인간을 둘러싼 자연과 생태 환경을 성찰하고 개항기 한 국 생태문화의 특성을 고찰하였다. 개항을 전후해서 한국에 대한 자연탐 사가 증가한 가운데 개항기 한국의 정치, 문화, 역사 전반을 소개했던 『코리안 리포지터리』(1892-1898)는 한국의 자연기행, 지역탐사, 생태 환 경, 역사 및 인문지리에 대한 다층적인 학술기사를 소개함으로써 개항기 한국의 자연과 지역을 생태적 관점에서 검토할 수 있는 귀중한 자료를 제공했다. 본 논문은 『코리안 리포지터리』의 기사 가운데 개항기 한국의 자연과 생태관련 기사를 전수조사하고 목록화한 후, 개항기 근대적 관점 에서 한국의 자연과 생태 환경이 다루어지는 양상을 조망했다. 또한 『코 리안 리포지터리』가 국제적 차원에서 한국의 자연과 지역 정보를 생산, 유통하고 자연과 그를 둘러싼 생태 환경 담론을 형성하는데 기여했음을 진단하였다.
This study explores the development of professionalism in using Educational Technology (EdTech) among Korean elementary English teachers amid the increasing integration of technology in English education. Employing the Grounded Theory methodology, the study involved in-depth interviews with nine Korean elementary English teachers experienced in using EdTech. It aims to identify their EdTech experiences, the elements constituting EdTech professionalism, and its developmental process. The study reveals that teachers’ EdTech professionalism encompasses a proactive approach towards technology, continuous professional growth based on practice and reflection, and adaptation of teaching methods in response to evolving technologies and learner needs. It highlights the importance of teachers’ self-directed approach, collaboration with other teachers, and the integration of pedagogical, content, and technological knowledge into their English teaching. The findings have implications for teacher education and the advancement of EdTech-utilized English education, suggesting new processes and directions for developing elementary English teachers’ professionalism in the rapidly evolving landscape of educational technology.
The present study aimed to analyze the developmental trajectories of English achievement and exposure time through private education, utilizing univariate and multivariate latent growth curve analysis. This study used a subset of the Gyeonggi Education Panel Study data from 2012 to 2017. The results indicated consistent disparities in the growth of English achievement, depending on the student’s proficiency levels at the starting point. In particular, the early exposure to private tutoring was significantly and closely related to the initial status and the growth trajectory of English achievement. When the sample was classified by urbanicity, the findings suggested that the gap in English achievement was likely to increase over time across the two regions, with a stronger correlation with private tutoring found in urban areas. These results underscore the need for educational intervention for students in less advantageous conditions, and they provide valuable pedagogical implications for teaching English in the Korean EFL context.
Lee, En Hye, & Lee, Chee Hye. (2024). “Phonological Aspects of American and British Englishes Embedded in Korean English: A Perspective of Linguistic Realities”. The Sociolinguistic Journal of Korea, 32(1), 43-74. This paper explores the rationale behind the shift from Quirk’s deficit linguistics to Kachru’s liberation linguistics in English widely used in Korea. Despite the Korean government’s efforts to enhance communicative competence aligned with Inner Circle-oriented American Standard English, the study questions the perception of Korean English being solely dominated by American English from sociolinguistic perspectives. To delve into both psychological and empirical perspectives on English in Korea, a questionnaire survey involving 100 Korean college students is employed. The focus is on assessing the extent of influence from both American English and British English on Korean English. Additionally, the study examines how linguistic realities, disregarding sociolinguistic or functional aspects, contribute to the current state of Korean English. The analysis of survey data reveals that Korean linguistics, especially phonology, plays a role in shaping the dynamics of Korean English, supporting Kachru’s liberation linguistics. This contributes to the shift from the stage of aspiring to be more native-like American English to the stage of World Englishes, establishing itself as a variant of English in its own right.
This article explores the different meanings of the number ‘three’ in proverbs. According to the analysis of this article, the number ‘three’ in proverbs, while carrying the basic meaning of quantity, has more expanded meanings in Korean, Chinese and Japanese proverbs, where it may mean ‘many’, ‘all (whole)’, ‘part’, ‘small’, and even more abstracted concepts. In contrast, the number ‘three’ in the English proverbs is largely biased towards negative meanings. At the end of this study, the analysis of the number ‘three’ in proverbs through machine translation shows that machine translation has many limitations on the translation of the many meanings of the number ‘three’.
The research examines the types and causes of L2 writing anxiety Korean EFL learners experience and the influence of study abroad experience on L2 writing anxiety types. For the current study, a total of 128 university students majoring in different subjects responded to a questionnaire consisting of the three parts, including 1) the background questionnaire, 2) Second Language Writing Anxiety Inventory (SLWAI), and 3) Causes of Writing Anxiety Inventory (CWAI). In order to analyse the collected data, descriptive statistics and an independent sample t-test were employed. The results showed that the participants were more likely to face cognitive anxiety than somatic anxiety and avoidance behavior. Moreover, L2 learners’ previous study abroad experience had an impact on avoidance behavior more than cognitive anxiety and somatic anxiety. It was also found that main causes of L2 writing anxiety are learners’ linguistic difficulties, fear of teachers’ negative comments, and insufficient writing practice. Based on the findings, both implications for teaching English writing and suggestions for future research are discussed.
본 연구에서는 BTS의 노래가사 언어 코드 비율 변화와 트위터 내 팬 덤 아미(ARMY)의 메타언어적 코멘트를 통해 BTS 현상에서의 언어 이 데올로기를 탐구하였다. 분석대상은 2013년부터 2022년까지 BTS의 앨 범에 포함된 121곡의 노래이다. 연구결과, 영어 코드 선택 비율은 꾸준 히 증가하여 2013년 21.2%에서 2022년에는 57.5%까지 상승하였으며, 반면에 한국어 코드 선택 비율은 2013년 78.8 %에서 점차 하락하여 42.5%로 감소하는 양상을 확인했다. 또한 트위터에 나타난 팬들의 메타 언어 코멘트를 분석한 결과, 언어 민족주의적 순수주의의 태도와 반-언 어 민족주의적 순수주의의 태도가 대립하는 형태를 관찰하였다. 언어 민 족주의적 순수주의의 태도를 가진 팬들은 한국어 사용을 한국적 정체성 의 실현으로 연결 짓고, 영어 코드의 증가를 우려하는 경향을 보였다. 한 편, 반-언어 민족주의적 순수주의의 태도를 가진 팬들은 BTS의 언어 코 드 선택과 정체성의 연결을 지양하며, 언어 코드 선택에 대한 비판에 저항하는 모습을 보였다. 이러한 연구결과를 바탕으로 BTS는 적절한 언 어 코드를 사용하여 글로벌 팬들과 소통함으로써 다양성과 포용성을 장 려하고, 팬덤 "아미"는 언어 선택 행위에 대한 이해와 존중을 확대함으로 써 언어 이데올로기에 대한 인식을 높일 수 있는 방안을 제공하였다는 점에서 의의가 있다.