• Journal of Korean language education
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.197-225
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• 2018

The purpose of this study is to compare the difference in the interactions between beginning language learners and heritage learners on their forms based on the interaction hypothesis. In this study, three types of information gap activities were used to analyze Language Related Episodes (LREs) while investigating the interaction patterns in language use between four pairs (eight learners) of foreign learners and four pairs (eight learners) of English-speaking heritage learners. The result indicated that foreign learners had a high focus on form during interaction. In particular, they had a tendency to focus on vocabulary rather than grammar, and they conducted self-repair by examining and mostly adjusting their speech to postposition and tense. However, in the problem-solving process, they showed a limited ability in interaction, and thus directly asked others to settle the problem or resorted to using English due to their lack of ability to employ various communication strategies. However, heritage learners had a relatively low focus on form compared to foreign learners. Yet, they also focused more on vocabulary rather than grammar and conducted self-repair in interaction, especially for vocabulary. In addition, they were skillful at using various communication strategies such as indirect expressions, use of alternative words, evasion, and delaying, to expand speech and prevent communication breakdown. They focused less on grammar and mostly did not provide negative feedback in interaction.

• Journal of Information Technology Services
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.195-214
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• 2013

The purpose of this study is to verify the mediating effect of interaction among learners in a Web Based Collaboration Learning (WBCL) environment. 254 Korean college students served as test subjects and during the 4 weeks of research period, they studied the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) in a web-based collaborative learning system. The interaction between learners was looked into by categorizing the concept into task oriented information sharing activities and relationship oriented communication activities and analyzing the causal relationship between the two activities. Learning performances were measured in individual level. The results are as follows. First, task oriented information sharing activities effect positively on relationship oriented information sharing activities. Second, the managerial characteristics of WBCL had a positive effect on interaction between learners but the systematic characteristics had partial influence on interaction between learners. Third, the interaction between learners completely interconnects the managerial characteristics of WBCL and learning performance but partially interconnects the systematic characteristic of WBCL and learning performance. In conclusion, this study implies that managerial and systematic characteristics of WBCL should be considered on the preferential basis for the WBCL to become successful and interactive activities such as information sharing and communication should be encouraged to be active from a small-size WBCL perspective.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.177-194
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• 2011

This study examines the use of discourse markers in cross-cultural communication between EFL learners in an e-learning environment. The study analyzes the use of discourse markers in a corpus of an interactive web with a bulletin board system through which college students of English at Japanese and Korean universities interacted with each other discussing the topics of local and global issues. It compares the use of discourse markers in the learners' corpus to that of a native English speakers' corpus. The results indicate that discourse markers are useful interactional devices to structure and organize discourse. EFL learners are found to display more frequent use of referentially and cognitively functional discourse markers and a relatively rare use of other markers. Native speakers are found to use a wider variety of discourse markers for different functions. Suggestions are made for using computer corpora in understanding EFL learners' language difficulties and helping them become more interactionally competent speakers.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.99-118
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• 2011

Research on strategic Code-Switching (CS) of second language learners in teaching English in English (TEE) program provides an elaborate framework for analyzing how learners manage to express themselves in spite of their limited knowledge of the target language. This research presupposes that L2 learners' CS presents innovative solutions for communicative strategy, and that CS used as communicative strategy can promote L2 learners' language acquisition. The major questions of current research involve examining the significant patterns of different functions of CS in L2 learners' interaction and investigating L2 learners' CS styles according to the different functions of CS. The implication of CS utility is regarded as a teaching technique in the TEE program. Recorded transcript is analyzed to trace the same pattern and the categorization of CS as well as to recognize the functions of CS and their ratio. Hence, this leads to the conclusion that learners' negotiation between code selection and communication intention occurs in patterns. The learners' CS tends to be predictable, reproductive, and systematic, as one of the language acquisition phases. Therefore, the attention to the CS in the TEE program should be redirected in communication substantiality toward the principles of pragmatics. As an additional advantage of the CS analysis, this research elaborates on a conceptual acceptance of CS as a set of learners' strategies in the TEE program.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.91-106
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• 2010

This study examines the use of hedges in cross-cultural communication between EFL learners in an e-learning environment. The study analyzes the use of hedges in a corpus of an interactive web with a bulletin board system through which college students of English at Japanese and Korean universities interacted with each other discussing the topics of local and global issues. It compares the use of hedges in the students' corpus to that of a native English speakers' corpus. The result shows that EFL learners tend to use relatively smaller number of hedges than the native speakers in terms of the frequencies of the total tokens. It further reveals that the learners' overuse of a single versatile high-frequency hedging item, I think, results in relative underuse of other hedging devices. This indicates that due to their small repertoire of hedges, EFL learners' overuse of a limited number of hedging items may cause their speech or writing to become less competent. Based on the result and interviews with the learners, the study also argues that hedging should be understood in its social contexts and should not be understood just as a lack of conviction or a mark of low proficiency. Suggestions were made for using computer corpora in understanding EFL learners' language difficulties and helping them develop communicative and pragmatic competence.

• Journal of Engineering Education Research
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.3-13
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• 2010

The purpose of this study was to investigate between learning styles and communication apprehension of Engineering students. Participants were 405 first-year Engineering cohort. Following were the results: First, 80 percent were classified as Reflective learners, 61 percent were classified as Sensing learners, 73.1 percent were classified as Visual learners, and 66.7 percent were classified as Global learners. Second, the result showed that there was a significant difference in learning style by gender. Most female learners were Reflective, while most male learners were Active. Lastly, the finding revealed that there were significant differences in communication apprehension on Perception and Processing dimension. Sensing students demonstrated higher level of communication apprehension than Intuitive students and Reflective students shown higher level of communication apprehension than Active students. For the program developing Engineering students' communication skills, implications for reducing students' communication apprehension based on the type of learning styles were discussed.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.191-206
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• 2012

This study examines the use of the modals and quasi-modals of obligation and necessity, which involves the layering of must, should, have (got) to, got to, and need to in a corpus of cross-cultural communication between EFL learners. The study compares the EFL learners' corpus with a sub-corpus of ICE-GB in terms of token counts and semantic/functional distributions because International Corpus of Standard varieties of English serves as common reference points for international comparison of varieties of English. The results showed that must, should, and have to were the main players in both the corpus of EFL learners and that of native speakers. However, some discrepancy exists between EFL learners' corpus and the native speakers' corpus in the use of the modals and quasi-modals of obligation and necessity. Compared to the corpus of native speakers, the corpus of EFL learners was distinctively different in the relative unpopularity of have to and in the comparative popularity of must particularly for root meaning. Suggestions were made for using computer corpora in understanding EFL learners' language use. And pedagogical implications were made for teaching English modality considering the current usage of the modals and quasi-modals in Standard varieties of English and helping the students develop pragmatic competence.

• Journal of Practical Engineering Education
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.555-563
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• 2022

This study explored the educational effects of e-PBL by using metaverse tools to strengthen PBL interactions among foreign learners. The university's 3-hour, 15-week PBL subject was systematically reorganized to satisfy the needs of online groups of students. Metaverse technology was also used as a tool for interaction in the process of solving practical problems closely related to our social issues through e-PBL. e-PBL lectures are composed of foreign learners from various countries. More than half of the 43 participating students are from 11 different nations. Learners in an e-PBL class are able to partake in task-based learning activities through the use of the metaverse. This qualitative study identified the metaverse is an effective communication tool which transcends language and nationality. It is also a unique space where both verbal and non-verbal communication between team members are possible online. This study can demonstrate the positive effects of e-PBL teaching methods. By using the metaverse's various tools of interaction to improve communication among foreign learners whose Korean levels are not perfect, we can create a digital space which more closely resembles an offline, interpersonal learning experience.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.77-102
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• 2002

Factors affecting foreign language learning task are diverse in nature due to the different social and cultural backgrounds so that learners have to somehow use strategies and expressions to adjust diverse factors to their learning environments. The main purpose of this paper is to show how important NNS vs. NNs interaction through CCDL can be in their enhancement of English proficiency by giving examples from their chatting conversation(written conversation) data collected for over two semesters. Chatting as a means of synchronous communication interaction between students from two different cultural backgrounds can act as a predictor of foreign language achievement. Chatting and Telemeet activities have their own advantages in enhancing communicative competence when learning English. By engaging in these synchronous communication activities learners of English from different cultural backgrounds can acquire unique strategies and expressions from which they learn from each other. In short, this study advocates the importance of strategies and patterns foreign language learners can acquire from interaction among culturally different peer groups.

• Korean Medical Education Review
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.3-10
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• 2021

Learning by teaching (LbT) has long been recognized as an important learning behavior that constructs meaning based on interactions between learners. This study aimed to explore the meaning of LbT as an important learning activity for future implementation in education. LbT is based on the cultural historical activity theory and sociocultural learning theory, as developed by scholars including Vygotsky. These frameworks value the construction of meaning based on language, and LbT is reported to be effective in constructing meaning. In addition, within the zone of proximal development posited by Vygotsky, learning through interaction between learners improves academic achievement, higher-order thinking, deep learning, and reflective learning. LbT also promotes students' learning presence, and strengthens various competencies such as collaboration and communication skills. Interactive behavior between learners in the form of LbT has been explored as an approach to teaching and learning, with methods including peer learning, peer tutoring, peer teaching, peer mentoring, Lernen durch Lehren, and peer-assisted learning. LbT has also been applied as a learning method. In the future, LbT has boundless potential to improve learning through activities such as flipped learning or online learning based on interactions between learners.