This study investigated how student-centered learning affects first-year college students’ perceptions of and construction of investment in English learning. After finishing two reading assignments using a student-centered approach, 50 students completed open-ended written surveys, and 15 students participated in open-ended interviews. Thematic analysis of the data, which consisted primarily of the translated interview transcripts and secondarily of the survey responses, showed that initially the students recognized the importance of learning English but had ambivalent attitudes towards the language. However, after completing the student-centered reading assignments, they expressed self-confidence, a sense of accomplishment, and a will to learn, which helped them to concretely construct their investment in English learning. These findings indicate the positive impact of student-centered learning on students’ perceptions of English and their construction of investment in learning the language, highlighting its importance in helping students, particularly as an alternative to exam-driven instructional approaches common in Korea’s environment of English fever and similar contexts.

The present study examines Korean high school English teachers’ and university students’ perceptions about the criterion-referenced assessment of English in CSAT. A total of 400 participants (149 teachers and 251 students) answered an online questionnaire. Teachers showed more positive attitudes than students in their perceptions about the reduction of excessive competition among students, more communicative English classes, and the use of Korean and mathematics scores of the CSAT for the admission materials. Students, on the other hand, were more positive than teachers in their perceptions about the effects of the criterion-referenced assessment of English in CSAT on the reduction of private education and more high scorers in the CSAT. Regarding the alternatives to current criterion-referenced assessments of English in CSAT, teachers seem to emphasize the development of new question types for a valid criterion-referenced assessment system while students seem to focus on improving the communication skills through the English test in CSAT, not on the validity of the criterion-referenced assessment.

This study utilized Automated Speech Recognition technology to determine the potential utility and acceptance of such technology in the English as a Foreign Language classroom. Learners were made aware of the Automatic Speech Recognition potential of their mobile devices and provided with some direction in, and incentive for, its use. Participants were then scored on their assessment of the technology according to the Technology Acceptance Model. Participants showed a marked appreciation for the ease and utility of the technology with over 72% agreeing that the technology was both accessible and useful. Support for the use of Automatic Speech Recognition as a testing method was somewhat mixed, with 75% of participants agreeing that the testing was fair, but only 60% reporting that they felt they did well on the test. As a secondary point of interest, this study examined the potential use of Automatic Speech Recognition technology for teaching and testing pronunciation.

This study examines learner perceptions into the use of Classwide Peer Tutoring (CPT) as an approach to conduct a mechanical exercise (ME). This research analyzed learner preferences between CPT and other methods of conducting MEs (i.e., oral MEs and written MEs), examined learner perceptions of CPT’s learning effectiveness, and also inquired into student perceptions of CPT’s peer corrective feedback (CF) approach. Forty-six Korean university students participated in this study by completing a survey after experiencing CPT, oral MEs, and written MEs over the course of nine lessons. The data were analyzed through chi-squared, goodness-of-fit tests and descriptive statistics. The results indicated the participants preferred CPT and perceived CPT as more interesting and motivating than the other ME methods. The results also indicated the participants perceived CPT to be more effective than alternative ME approaches. Lastly, the participants had positive perceptions of CPT’s peer CF approach and believed CPT’s peer CF approach was more effective than the CF approach in oral MEs.

매년 개최되는 '과학 축전'에서는 부스 운영 학생들의 안내 하에 다양한 과학 및 기술관련 워크숍, 시범 실험등의 활동이 제공된다. 본 연구는 과학축전에 참여한 부스 운영 학생들과 참여 관람 학생들의 인식을 탐색한 것이다. 연구대상은 6일 동안 축전에 참여한 부스 운영 학생 323명과 참여 관람 학생 495명이다. 본 연구에서 사용한 설문지는 안광호와 박일우(2009) 및 이선경 외(2010)의 설문 문항을 수정 보완하여 완성되었다. 연구 결과로서, 학생들의 참여 배경, 참여 유형별 및 학교급별 교육적 경험에 대한 인식, 부스 운영 학생들의 과학탐구 경험에 대한 인식 등을 살펴보았다. 연구 결과는 과학축전을 준비하는 과정에서 부스 운영 학생들이 문제를 제기하고 해결하는 탐구 과정에 참여한 것을 의미 있는 경험으로 인식했다는 것을 보여주었다. 연구의 결과를 토대로, 비형식 과학교육으로서 공동체 기반 프로그램에 대한 의미와 시사점을 제시하였다.

A peer assessment method was implemented as part of an action research project where the primary goal was to create constructivist science classrooms. Student reflective writings, which had been created in the process of action research, were analyzed to examine the perceptions of the students concerning the peer assessment method employed in their earth science classrooms. Five perception categories and thirteen statements were developed from the student writings. These indicated that the students appreciated the positive nature of peer assessment and the effects of it as an alternative method for promoting learning. It was also revealed, however, that some students displayed inappropriate behaviors toward peer assessment which led to negative perceptions of the new assessment method. Implications for future use of peer assessment in science classrooms are discussed. Limitations founded in the present study as well as possible solutions are provided.