Changing Attitudes toward Global Englishes, ELT, and the NEST-NNEST Dichotomy in Korea

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Approximately ten years after the ‘English fever’ spread throughout South Korea from the 1990s to the early 2000s, the severe obsession over “standard” English has appeared to diminish to some degree, coinciding with learners’ greater awareness of Global Englishes. To determine whether any changes in their attitudes toward English could be observed, 110 Koreans completed a survey asking questions about their perceptions of Global Englishes, ELT, and the NEST-NNEST dichotomy. Results showed that most considered English to be a global language that does not belong to a particular country. Moreover, many preferred to learn English from a NEST, mainly to enhance English fluency. While nationality was found to play an important role in the choice of the NEST, race was not found to be a determining factor. Such findings point toward a gradual shift in perceptions of English learning and education in Korea.