On Directions for the Revision of Language Forms Listed in the 2007 Korean English Curriculum

This study highlights some very important future directions for the revision of language forms in the 2007 Korean English Curriculum, expected to be made public in the summer of 2011. A critical review of the 2007 National English Curriculum shows that language forms exemplified in that curriculum are not well-chosen or well-sequenced from the viewpoint of grammar selection and gradation, and that no mention of structural labels or grammatical terminologies makes it hard for teachers to recognize their formal properties. To fulfill the original purpose that languages should be listed in the curriculum so that functional-notional syllabuses can be complemented by form-focused instruction, the study presents partial inventories of grammatical items with well-chosen and well-sequenced examples. Minimal descriptions are given to these inventories that are based on general notions or well-known grammatical notions. Occasional suggestions are also made for which language forms should be taught in which schools.