KOREAN UNIVERSITY ESL STUDENTS' PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR ENGLISH SPEAKING
Date
2013-08
Authors
Kim, Grace Seung Yeon
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Abstract
Ten Korean ESL students in a U.S. university English language institute were interviewed for their perceptions of their experiences with English (in particular, with English speaking) in Korea and the US, both in and out of school. This study was conducted to find the factors that led to the difficulties they encountered speaking English in and out of school in the US. Although they had studied English for many years in Korea, a majority of their English curriculum in school and in afterschool academies was preparation for the grammar and reading-based college entrance exam. Also, aspects of Korean classroom culture that they brought with them to the US appeared to inhibit them from utilizing ESL classrooms as a place to practice English speaking. Outside of school, they had difficulties making American friends who could help them improve English. This often led them to resort to the company of other Korean international students, further preventing them from improving English speaking although they had come to the US for that very reason.
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English as a Second Language (ESL), College, English, ESL, Korean, Perception, Speaking