Needs Analysis for Developing a Culture-focused Teacher Training Course

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Ever since a massive scale government-funded teacher training was started in 1996 for elementary school teachers of English, many changes and improvement have been made in terms of its curriculum, instruction, and evaluation. However, it has been reported that the level of teachers’ English language competence and cultural understanding still remain to be the major problem areas to be improved. Cultural understanding serves as a foundation of developing English proficiency. Therefore, it is important to develop teacher training programs where cultural understanding can be enhanced along with culture teaching skills. The purpose of this study is to examine how Korean elementary school teachers perceive English-speaking culture and what attitude they have toward it, and identify their needs and wants for developing a teacher training course to promote cultural understanding and to improve culture teaching skills. A questionnaire survey was conducted among one hundred and eighty three elementary school teachers of English who teach at the elementary schools located in Gwangju and Jeonnam region. The results showed that informal learning experiences or resources provided them with more cultural information than formal education including college courses or teacher training programs. They also wanted culture to be integrated into communicative skill-oriented classes.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 Choe, Y. J., "World Englishes, cross-cultural communications, and English education." 7 (7): 389-408, 2000

2 Ministry of Education, "Wekukokwa kyoyuk kwajong: Curriculum of foreign languages." 1997

3 Park, J. H., "The problems of communication in the lack of understanding culture and vocabulary." 51 (51): 127-150, 1996

4 Brewster, J.,, "The primary English teacher’s guide." Taiwan Normal University 2002

5 Park, J. K., "Teaching young learners English: What to gain, what to lose." English Teachers’ Association. 130-140, 2002

6 Lee, W.,, "Teaching cultural aspects in primary English education." 54 (54): 327-372, 1999

7 Duff, P. A, "Teaching and learning English for global intercultural communication: Challenges and opportunities." 57 (57): 245-264, 2002

8 Park, J. K., "Teaching English: Korean culture and context." 54 (54): 3-22, 1999

9 Kim, S. Y, "Teachers’ perceptions about teaching English through English." 57 (57): 131-148, 2002

10 Park, J. K., "Teacher education for ELT in Korean elementary schools." National Taiwan Normal University, 11-20, 2000a

11 Jones, B., "Pathfinder Series for Language Teachers" CILT. (24) : 1995

12 Park, Y. W., "On the qualities of an effective elementary school English teacher." 53 (53): 107-134, 1998

13 Yoshida, K., "Language policy and elementary school English education." Notre Dam Women’s College of Kyoto 2001

14 Park, J. K, "Korean elementary school teachers’ perspectives on teaching English." 2000b

15 Pyo, H. Y, "Introducing global issues in the English classroom." 52 (52): 241-264, 1997

16 Park, J. K., "Integrating culture into communicative English teaching." 52 (52): 135-154, 1997b

17 Brewster, J., "High hopes: Creating optimal conditions for ELT in state elementary schools." National Taiwan Normal University, 1-10, 2000

18 Kim, S. A, "Enhancing cultural understanding: An instructional model." 55 (55): 141-166, 2000

19 Park, J. K., "English teaching in Korean elementary schools: Curriculum, instruction, and yeacher education." English Teachers’ Association. 464-472, 1997a

20 Kim, E. J., "Elementary school teachers’ attitudes and expectations on English and English education." 12 : 189-208, 1996

21 Yoo, B, "Developing web-based material for teaching culture." Hankook Press. 130-132, 2003

22 Kim, H. R., "Culture teaching in primary English education: Toward the development of intercultural communicative competence." 9 (9): 69-96, 2003

23 Choe, Y. J., "Culture as a background knowledge in TEFL." 50 (50): 141-156, 1995

24 Ihm, H. J., "Content-based language instruction: Its integration into culture teaching." 14 (14): 163-178, 1998b

25 Lee, H. R, "British and American culture embedded in teaching of English." 13 (13): 129-148, 1997

26 Soh, Y. H., "Bringing culture into the English classroom" 52 (52): 3-26, 1997

27 Yoo, B, "An examination of video materials used for English in Korean elementary schools with a focus on cultural aspects of interpersonal communication." 4 (4): 5-30, 1998

28 Kim, J. H., "A survey into the effects of elementary English teacher training on teachers." 13 (13): 131-161, 2001

29 Ihm, H. J, "A study of the cultural content of illustrations in selected EFL/ESL textbooks for young children." 53 (53): 153-178, 1998a

30 Lee, H. W.,, "A preliminary evaluation of the elementary school English program in Korea." 56 (56): 53-80, 2001

31 Pae, "A cultural syllabus for Korean students" 43-63, 1981