The purpose of this study is to develop a chatbot for Korean language education using Google Dialogflow, aiming to determine its effectiveness as a learning tool and to investigate learners’ perceptions of prototype chatbots. Six Korean language education chatbots were developed for beginner Korean language learners, and 30 beginner learners—15 from Mongolia studying in Korea and 15 from Japan studying abroad—were recruited. These learners practiced Korean conversation with the chatbots for about three weeks, and pre- and post-surveys were conducted. Analysis showed that using the chatbots for conversation practice positively impacted learners’ confidence. However, the chatbots’ overall effectiveness fell short of expectations, as significant results were observed only in confidence among the three investigated areas: interest, confidence, and motivation. Learners were generally satisfied with the chatbots, although Japanese learners rated its effectiveness in improving expressions and comprehension skills low, suggesting a need for further analysis. Both groups found voice chatbots more beneficial, underscoring a significant need for individual speaking practice, especially among Japanese learners. Despite limitations such as the inability to engage in flexible conversations, the study demonstrates the potential of chatbots developed as a learning tool and identifies learners’ perceptions from various perspectives.

이 연구는 미얀마인 한국어 학습자의 한국어 사용 오류 양상을 살펴서 미얀마인 한국어 학습자들에게 좀 더 효율적으로 한국어교육을 할 수 있 는 방안에 대해 제언하는 것을 논의의 목적으로 하였다. 이 연구의 목적 을 달성하기 위해 미얀마인 외국인 유학생들 63명의 작문 과제를 음소, 문법, 어휘 등의 측면에서 분석하였다. 그 결과 음소 관련 오류에서는 파 찰음, 평음과 경음의 대치 오류가 많았으며, 'ㅓ'와 'ㅏ', 'ㅐ'와 'ㅏ', 'ㅐ' 와 'ㅔ'의 대치 오류도 많이 나타났다. 문법 관련 오류에서는 연결어미 ‘-고’와 ‘-아서/어서’의 대치 오류가 가장 많았으며, 어휘 관련 오류에서 는 어휘 의미 혼동, 미얀마어의 영향에 따른 의미 과잉 적용 등의 오류 가 많이 나타났다. 이 연구과 같은 한국어와 미얀마어의 대조 분석 관점 에서의 오류 연구가 계속 된다면 미얀마 한국어 학습자의 한국어교육에 유의미한 기여를 할 수 있을 것이다.

This study investigated speaking anxiety among advanced Korean language learners in Korean Language Institution classrooms, and the strategies they used to overcome it. The study employed qualitative methodology using online interviews for data collection. The sampling technique involved purposive sampling by selecting 13 Korean learners who had completed an advanced Korean course at TOPIK Levels 5 or 6, with Level 6 being the highest. The interview questions addressed various aspects, including comparisons of speaking skills, anxiety in Korean classrooms, fear of making mistakes, concerns about classmates’ reactions, and anxiety induced by teachers. Thematic analysis was performed by generating initial codes, grouping related codes to uncover potential themes, and highlighting recurring patterns in the participants’ responses. The results revealed three factors that contribute to speaking anxiety: personal reasons, teachers’ classroom approaches, and teaching methods. Advanced learners manage anxiety through three coping strategies: preparation, positive thinking, and seeking support from peers. The study concludes with discussions on the pedagogical implications, limitations, and recommendations for future research in advanced Korean language learning classrooms.

본 연구는 한국어 학습자들이 자신들의 언어학습 신념이 그들의 전반 적인 언어학습과 새로운 환경에 적응하는 것에 어떠한 관계가 있는지를 찾기 위함이 목적이다. 여섯 명의 한국대학교에 재학 중인 외국인 유학 생들을 대상으로 그들의 언어학습 신념에 대한 인터뷰가 진행되었다. Horwitz의 BALLI 문항을 기반으로 한 반구조적 인터뷰가 진행되었으며, 그들의 답변은 외국어 능력, 언어학습의 어려움, 언어학습의 본성, 학습 과 소통전략, 동기와 기대 등의 주제를 기반으로 비슷한 패턴을 보이는 항목별로 구분되어졌다. 연구 결과는 외국인 유학생들은 그들의 한국어 실력이 향상될수록 자신감을 가졌으며, 그들은 문화에 대한 학습이 언어 학습에 중요한 부분이라는 것을 인지했다. 또한, 가장 효과적인 학습법은 실제적인 상황과 사람들과 어울리는 것을 꼽았으며, 그들은 대학 졸업 이후에도 한국에 남아 있기를 희망했다.

The purpose of this study was to examine the use of machine translation by Uzbek-speaking Korean learners, focusing on their usage patterns, attitudes, perceptions, and expectations, as well as identifying the educational implications of using machine translation. An online survey, lasting two weeks, involved 85 Korean language learners from universities in Korea and Uzbekistan. The main findings indicated a high reliance on machine translation for Korean language learning, with the majority of respondents using machine translations to find accurate vocabulary and expressions. Regarding their attitudes towards machine translation, learners mainly utilized it for literal communication, reading, and writing, and were generally satisfied with them, especially as tools for learning spellings and pronunciations. The use of machine translation significantly influenced learners’ confidence, interest in learning, and anxiety reduction. In terms of perception, learners found machine translation effective for learning Korean vocabulary, expressions, and writing, but also perceived machine translators as sources of stress and anxiety. Expectations for using machine translation were high for completing tasks in vocabulary, expression, and writing, but low for improving grammar skills and producing error-free Korean expressions.

This study investigated and analyzed the recognition and needs for Korean communication competency among non-Korean learners who participated in an online Korean language course. To this end, the importance, performance, and necessity of the categories of communication competency recognized by Korean language learners were measured, and then IPA(Importancce-Performance Analysis: Martilla & James, 1977) analysis and Borich’s needs analysis(Borich, 1980) were used. After implementation, we examined whether there were differences in outcomes depending on learner variables. After examining the sub-items, it was found that there were differences in importance, current level, and need depending on the learner’s home country, and there were differences in current level, demand, and necessity depending on academic background and Korean language proficiency. In addition, there are differences in need depending on the learner’s reason for learning Korean, so it is necessary to respond to individual learnier’s needs according to learner variables when designing curriculum for online foreign language learners of Korean.

본고는 표준 중국어 초급 학습자를 대상으로 ‘绕口令’ 자료를 활용하여 제3성과 제 2성에 중점을 둔 성조 교육 방안을 설계하고, 이를 직접 실제 교육 현장에 적용하여 그 효과를 검증하는 것에 그 목적을 두고 있다. 이를 위해 2장에서는 수업 설계 방 안을 제시하였고, 3장에서는 수업의 구체적인 운영 및 결과, 만족도에 대한 분석을 진행하였으며, 마지막 4장에서는 본고의 연구 성과를 종합하였다.

The current study presents a methodology of teaching the connotations and nuances of the word Han (恨) to English-speaking Korean language learners. Since Han (恨) expresses unique and traditional aspects of Korean sensibilities, the goal would be for native English speakers to be able to understand the complexities of its meaning, in spite of the differences in culture background. To this end, research was done into how Han (恨) is translated into English, as there is no term in English with the same meaning. From these findings, a list of Korean vocabulary related to the meaning of Han (恨) was made to show its definitions in English. In addition, a survey was conducted on 42 Americans to find out how English speakers understand Han (恨). As a result of this research, the current study demonstrates the need to teach the meaning of Han (恨) to Korean language learners from English-speaking countries, and suggests a teaching methodology which follows the order of Pre-Class, In-Class and After-Class study based on the Flip-Learning model.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of visual input enhancement (VIE) on the comprehension of reading texts and the learning of two grammatical forms: English relative clauses and articles. Individual learners’ working memory (WM) capacity was also tested to explore its impact on the effectiveness of VIE. A total of 48 Korean college learners of English were assigned into three groups: (a) relative group receiving VIE on relative clauses (b) article group receiving VIE on articles, and (c) a control group receiving no VIE. Results showed that VIE did not have any negative effect on the learners’ reading comprehension. Rather, it had positive effects on the learning of the two grammatical forms. According to the findings, VIE on relative clauses enhanced the learners’ receptive knowledge of the grammatical form, whereas VIE on articles enhanced the learners’ productive knowledge of the form. There was a potential link between the effectiveness of VIE and the learners’ working memory processing ability. Pedagogical implications are also discussed based on these findings.

This article reports on an experimental study that investigated the effects of different conditions of listener backchannels on the fluency of L2 speakers. The participants were 15 advanced Chinese learners of Korean who performed oral tasks in three different backchannel conditions: (1) verbal + nonverbal (V+NV), (2) nonverbal-only (NV), and (3) no backchannels (NB). The verbal backchannels included “[ŋ~] (Non lexical verbal form)”, “[ne]”, “[ɑ]”, “[ɨm]” while the nonverbal backchannels involved head nodding. Fluency was assessed via three temporal measures: Rate A, Rate B and MLR. The data was statistically analyzed using SPSS 25 package. The results showed that 15 Chinese participants in the NV condition were more fluent than in the V+NV or NB conditions. However, no significant differences were found between the V+NV and NB conditions. These results suggest that nonverbal backchannels may facilitate the fluency of advanced Chinese learners of Korean during oral tasks depending on the nature of backchannel use in their L1 and sociocultural environments. The present research theoretically broadens the scope of both fluency and backchannel studies and provides valuable data and methods for empirical studies on backchannels to Korean.

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.

This study investigated the effects of complex problem-solving activities involving children’s literature on students’ critical thinking dispositions and English production. Thirty-one sixth-grade students were given lessons over a seven-week period. Various types of data were analyzed qualitatively, and the results of a critical thinking disposition test were analyzed quantitatively. Results were as follows: First, the critical thinking dispositions test revealed positive changes in open-mindedness, independence, objectivity, and inquisitiveness. The highest score was found for open-mindedness. The largest increase in score was for independence and objectivity. Second, changes in critical thinking dispositions enriched children’s English production. Open-mindedness helped with spoken language production as it encouraged students to share their opinions freely. Independence was mainly expressed in writing form in which students could question and evaluate the text. Greater objectivity was applied to spoken and written language production as the subjects were able to recognize the importance of evidence. Inquisitiveness affected children’s writing as it drove them to write down the results of their own research.

This study addresses the lack of comprehension data in second language acquisition research by focusing on English existential there-constructions (ETCs) with a locative extension (e.g., there is an X on the Y). The post-copular noun X used in the present study consisted of two types: actual and nonsense. Participants included 40 native speakers, as well as 40 advanced and 40 intermediate Korean learners of English, who completed an online picture selection task. In one picture, X was placed on the nearby Y; in another picture, X was placed on the far Y. The choice of both pictures was the correct response because ETCs are used to describe the existence of something regardless of its distance. There was a statistically significant relationship between English proficiency and the interpretation of ETCs. However, there was no relationship between the noun type and the interpretation of ETCs. In the Korean English curriculum, the distinction between expletive there and locative there must be emphasized.

This study aims to investigate how the differences in expression caused by different ways of how to see and think affect the students learning Japanese at basic levels. The participants were 30 Korean students, learning translation into Japanese at basic levels. In the class, they read Japanese picture books and their Korean version ones and discussed the differences between them. A simple survey was conducted, and a m ini-exam w as g iven. The participants recognized the difference in how to see and how to think between the two languages, such as why particular expressions were used. The results showed an effect on enhancing their learning motivation and it also confirmed that there is an effect enhancing the learning motivation in the students who were interested in reading picture books while sitting in a circular fashion. In addition, the mini-exam results showed an improvement in the students' interest and concentration in class. As can be seen from these results, recognizing the difference between Korean and Japanese expressions in picture books can positively impact on raising students’ interest, motivation, and enthusiasm in beginner level of learners of Japanese.

The current study examined the potential contribution of advanced Korean EFL learners’ writing abilities to their reading comprehension abilities. A total of 191 college students participated in this study and were tested on writing and reading comprehension abilities as well as other literacy-related measures including listening comprehension, textreading fluency, and knowledge of vocabulary to control for their effects. In order to account for different aspects of writing and reading comprehension abilities, multiple measures of reading and writing abilities were adopted. The Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyses demonstrated that the advanced Korean EFL learners’ English writing abilities had a significant effect on their reading comprehension abilities when other relevant literacy skills were controlled for. Furthermore, their writing abilities mediated the relationship between vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension abilities. These results highlight the important pedagogical implications on the critical role of writing abilities in enhancing the reading comprehension abilities of L2 learners.

This study reports Chinese and Korean university EFL students’ perceptions of and attitudes toward online and face-to-face English language learning modes during COVID-19. Few previous studies have focused on how students thought of online and face-to-face learning experiences of subjects regarding new concept learning and delivery of new contents. Research gravitating around English courses showed students' mixed perceptions. The survey was conducted for 302 Korean and 337 Chinese university students who took communication-oriented English courses. Descriptive statistics and qualitative data analysis were used for analysis. Results indicated that students preferred face-to-face English learning with some specific indications of achieving a stronger help and quality for communicative competence in language. Online learning also benefited students with a sense of both flexibility and independence. Positive components of face-to-face learning for language education might be considered for online education while incorporation features such as flexibility and independence to enrich language education during COVID-19.

The purpose of this study is to analyze the research trends in Korean education for learners in the Arab region. This paper also suggests directions for the future research on the field of Korean education for these learners. To conduct this study, a process of collection and sorting of research papers was held as the first step. Consequently, 64 papers were chosen. Among 64 papers, 31 academic journals and 33 theses were included. The study then reviewed the research trend by years, publishing types, and topics. Although there were very few studies in the 2000s, the number of studies has steadily increased after 2010. This was related to the Korean Wave in Arab countries and the increase in Arab students who study in Korean from 2013. In the topic analysis by the topics, ‘Teaching and Learning’ accounted for the largest proportion. The second largest proportion was ‘Korean Education Content’. Next was ‘Korean Education in general’, followed by ‘Contrastive Analysis’. Overall, there have been many studies based on contrast or error analysis between Arabic and Korean languages. In terms of contents, there were many studies on phonetics and culture. However, it was found that there are many studies that need to be addressed in each sub-topic. Lastly, based on the analysis in this study, the characteristics and limitations of research trends were analyzed, and future research directions were suggested.

The purpose of the study is two-fold: (a) to investigate L2 learners’ receptive and productive collocational knowledge concerning the learners’ lexical proficiency levels, and (b) to explore the degree of their productive collocational knowledge. A total of 358 Korean university students participated in this study and completed a Vocabulary Size Test, two receptive collocation tests, and one productive collocation test. The results revealed that there was significance among the scores of three collocation tests. It is also observed that receptive and productive collocational competence tends to increase as L2 learners’ vocabulary size develops. Regarding productive collocational knowledge gains, significant differences were found among collocation combinations but no interaction effect was found between combination types and vocabulary levels. The findings indicated that L2 learners need to be aware of the importance of learning collocational knowledge while teachers need to attempt to help them notice high-frequency collocations that regularly occur in various contexts.

This paper analyzes the Korean conjunctives –ko and –ese, and the Turkish converb –Ip, which have various meanings, and reveals their similarities and differences visually using the semantic map model. –ko and –ese are learned at the beginner level but Turkish learners have shown many errors. Those two Korean conjunctives express different temporal meanings, however, the corresponding Turkish converb expressed them in a single form. Korean textbooks have introduced the meanings of –ko and –ese as [sequential] and [continuous], but it can be made more confusing for learners by presenting the meaning using the same term. Therefore, it is necessary to teach the meanings of the two connectives in more detail according to their syntactic characteristics. Since most textbooks of Korean do not clearly present the differences between the –ko and –ese, effective teaching methods for Turkish-speaking learners based on the Focus-on-Form approach are proposed. To teach the conjunctives –ko and –ese, distinguishing between features of different meanings and to recognize those differences is encouraged.