• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.48
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• pp.223-252
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• 2017

This study explores effects of two types of chatbots - voice-based and text-based - on Korean EFL learners' speaking competence and learner perception. Participants were 80 freshmen students taking an English-speaking class at a university in Korea. They were divided into two experimental groups at random. During the sixteen-week experimental period, participants engaged in 10 chat sessions with the two different types of chatbots. To take a close examination of effects on the improvement of speaking competence, they took the TOEIC speaking test as pre- and post-tests. Structured questionnaire-based surveys were conducted before and after treatment to determine if there are changes in perception. Findings reveal two chatbots effectively contribute to improvement of speaking competence among EFL learners. Particularly, the voice-based chatbot was as effective as the text-based chatbot. An analysis of survey results indicates perception of chatbot-assisted language learning changed positively over time. In particular, most participants preferred voice-based chatbot over text-based chatbot. This study provides insight on the use of chatbots in EFL learning, suggesting that EFL teachers should integrate chatbot technology in their classrooms.

• Journal of Korea Game Society
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.7-16
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• 2016

This research aims to suggest a gamified smart learning design for Korean EFL young learners' speaking proficiency. Gamification is the use of game-thinking and game mechanics in non-game contexts to engage users in solving problems. Thus, the gamified smart learning as gamification in education is designed not only to elicit students' participation but also to enhance speaking skills. Especially, this research based on the results of a pilot study is focused on easing the burden of homework as well as engaging the speaking English game for the primary students with a relatively short attention span. The game elements utilized in this study are competition, rewards, customized characterization and so on. Kakao Talk is selected for this gamified smart learning research because of its ease of accessibility, and multiple applicable functions for language learning such as voice recording, text messaging and sharing videos or photos. Gamification in smart learning can be a means of productive approach to contemporary EFL teaching and learning.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.1-7
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• 2018

The current study investigates whether artificially intelligent chatbots influence Korean EFL students' vocabulary learning. For eight weeks, 47 college students in Korea participated in this study. They were divided into two groups: one experimental group and one control group. Participants in the experimental group engaged in chat with a chatbot during the eight-week experimental period. Before and after the experiment, pre- and post-tests were administered to see if their English vocabulary improved. Pre- and post- surveys were also performed to understand how the participants perceived chatbot-assisted vocabulary learning. Results show that the experimental group improved their vocabulary skills as a result of engaging in chat with the chatbot. Also, their perceptions of vocabulary learning positively changed, increasing their motivation, interest, and confidence in English. Given that there have been few empirical studies to investigate the effects of chatbots on vocabulary development, the present study can provide insights on the effectiveness of chatbots.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.353-380
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to analyze the preconceptions Korean EFL learners have about team teaching in the field of English education at a secondary level. Team teaching is a method of teaching where a Korean English teacher works in co-junction with a native English speaker. Generally speaking, when we discuss teaching methods for a foreign language, the most important objective is to improve our communication skills. The purpose of this study is to examine the effect on communication skills when team teaching is employed, and to find ways to maximize the benefit when team teaching. The underlying issues are; firstly, what are the precedent conditions for team teaching? Secondly, what are the best teaching methods and preparations for teaching materials for improving the effectiveness of team teaching? Third, how do the programs for team teaching with native teachers assist in improving the student's communication skills? Ideally, this study will assist in overcoming the fear that foreign language learners have when communicating with real native speakers.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.123-130
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• 2018

The present study aims to investigate how Korean EFL learners' views of form-focused instruction, integrated and isolated FFI (form-focused instruction), are related to their beliefs about grammar and attention and how different these relationships are between high and low proficiency levels and between males and females in Korean college contexts. The findings indicated the participants' strong preference for integrated FFI, which was significantly correlated with two factors, attention in English class and English proficiency. On the other hand, the isolated FFI was strongly correlated with their beliefs about grammar learning, that is, independent learning of grammar and importance of learning grammar rules. In conclusion, the integrated FFI was associated with students' proficiency and attention, while the isolated FFI was related to their views of grammar learning. In conclusion, it is suggested that we need to use integrated FFI in Korean EFL contexts considering students' levels of proficiency and attention.

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.1101-1107
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• 2017

This study explored the effect of ASR-based pronunciation instruction, using a mobile platform, on EFL learners' pronunciation development. Particularly, this quasi-experimental study focused on whether using mobile ASR, which provides voice-to-text feedback, can enhance the perception and production of target English consonants minimal pairs (V-B, R-L, and G-Z) of Korean EFL learners. Three intact classes of 117 Korean university students were assigned to three groups: a) ASR Group: ASR-based pronunciation instruction providing textual feedback by the mobile ASR; b) Conventional Group: conventional face-to-face pronunciation instruction providing individual oral feedback by the instructor; and the c) Hybrid Group: ASR-based pronunciation instruction plus conventional pronunciation instruction. The ANCOVA results showed that the adjusted mean score for pronunciation production post-test on the Hybrid instruction group (M=82.71, SD =3.3) was significantly higher than the Conventional group (M=62.6, SD =4.05) (p<.05).

• Journal of Digital Contents Society
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.161-168
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• 2010

In the past, Korean English language learners focused on knowledge of grammatical structures. Thus Korean trained instructors, who focused on explaining the grammar structures, were seen as being preferable for teaching in EFL (English as a foreign language) classrooms. However, with the focus changed to speaking capability Koreans now desire 'fluent' English more than 'accuracy' seeing if possible (Mottos, 1997). Current study has been concerned about the issue of how non-native learners of English perceive the difference between native teachers (NTs) and non-native teachers (non-NTs) of English in the context of ELT classroom. The study explores the issues and problems the followed and how non-NTs can enhance teaching practice of speaking and listening lessons through multimedia application.

• Korean Journal of English Language and Linguistics
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.227-248
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• 2002

This paper reviews current developments in UG-related SLA·FLL research. It discusses the findings of Hahn (2000), Shin (2000) and Yang (2001) with respect to the following issues: the role of UG parameters in SLA·FLL and the developmental aspects of inflectional categories in Korean EFL learners' interlanguage. It contends that Korean EFL learners' inflectional grammars are constrained by L1 as well as by Universal Grammar.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• no.6
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• pp.219-239
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• 2000

There has been a growing enthusiasm in Korea for the early education of English as a foreign language (EFL). The present study examined the validity of the Critical Period Hypothesis in terms of the Universal Grammar (UG), in three different types of learning contexts - first language (L1), second language (SL), and foreign language (FL) learning contexts. While previous research findings in L1 and SL learning contexts suggest that UG principles and parameters are accessible to language learners only for the early years of lifetime, this article argues that their results - and even the methods - cannot be applied to EFL settings and that independent studies on the EFL context are, required. It also proposes the recent UG notion of functional categories as the most appropriate subject in the discussion of Korean EFL learners' access to UG. Findings on foreign language contexts, including the author's own, strongly indicate that UG is not sensitive to learners' starting ages in FL settings. If young children in FL contexts cannot develop their interlanguage grammar based on UG, the existing teaching methods for young children should be revised.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.788-791
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• 2006

The perception of English labial consonants was investigated via experiment where 40 Korean EFL learners identified nonwords with the target labial consonants [p, b, f, v] in 4 different prosodic locations. The results showed that there was a strong positional effect since the accuracy rates of the four target consonants differed by position. Specifically, the average accuracy rate for the target consonants was higher in the stressed intervocalic position and initial onset position than in the unstressed intervocalic position and final coda position. Further, the accuracy rate for [f] is was high in all prosodic locations except the unstressed intervocalic position. This is unexpected in markedness theory given that fricatives are assumed to be more difficult to learn than stops.