Towards a sociocultural perspective on Korean English villages - International Journal of Pedagogies & Learning

home > archives > 4/1 > Towards a sociocultural perspective on K

Towards a sociocultural perspective on Korean English villages: A reply to Stephen Krashen

Michel N Trottier
Department of English Education/TESOL, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Republic of Korea

PP: 71 - 91

Abstract

The increased education-related migration of Korean school-aged children has prompted educational policy makers to develop alternative sources of English as a foreign language (EFL) instruction. In response, so-called 'English villages' have been developed as a novel, though controversial, alternative to overseas English immersion. But reaction to the English village phenomenon has been mixed, with some questioning the ability of such programs to deliver on their ambitious mandates.

The controversy has drawn the attention of prominent stakeholders both within and outside Korean EFL education. Among these, Stephen Krashen - a major figure in second language acquisition (SLA) theory and bilingual education policy - criticises English villages on several fronts. In doing so, however, not only does Krashen contradict his own theories (Krashen 1982, 1985; Krashen & Terrell 1983) but also he disregards the novel ways that English villages are attempting to reconstruct Korean EFL radically to meet the challenges of increasing globalisation (Kellner 2004).

This paper addresses each of Krashen's criticisms, and argues for a more holistic, sociocultural perspective (Lantolf 2002) about English villages. Future research directions are also suggested.

| More

Keywords

education policy, EFL education, English village, Korean EFL

View references

References

Aljaafreh, A., & Lantolf, J. P. (1994) Negative feedback as regulation and second language learning in the zone of proximal development. Modern Language Journal, 78, 465-483.

Allen, S. (1997) Sociocultural theory in museums: Insights and suggestions. In L. Schauble, G. Leinhardt, & L. Martin (Eds.), A framework for organizing a cumulative research agenda in informal learning contexts. Journal of Museum Education, 22(2&3), 8-9.

Asher, J. (1965) The strategy of total physical response: An application to learning Russian. International Review of Applied Linguistics, 3, 291-300.

Brown, H. D. (2001) Teaching by principles: An interactive approach to language pedagogy. New York: Longman.

Cho, C.-U. (2006, April 4) Education minister under fire. The Korea Herald. Retrieved April 23, 2006, from http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/

Chung, A. Y. (2006, May 29) Debate heats over English Villages. The Korea Times. Retrieved July 22, 2006, from times.hankooki.com/lpage/plaza/200606/kt20060 60214374955230.htm

Cook, V. (n.d.) Krashen's comprehension hypothesis model of L2 learning. Retrieved April 23, 2006, from http://homepage.ntlworld.com/vivian.c/SLA/Krashen.htm

Dewey, J. (1916) Democracy and education. New York: McMillan.

Dewey, J. (1938) Experience and education. London: Collier Books.

Dornyei, Z. (1996) Moving language learning motivation to a larger platform for theory and practice. In R. L. Oxford (Ed.), Language learning motivation: Pathways to the new century (pp. 71-80) Honolulu, HI: University of Hawai'i Press.

Ellis, R. (1994) The study of second language acquisition. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

English town on Cheju. (2006, December 17) The Korea Times. Retrieved May 23, 2007, from http://www.koreatimes.co.kr

Faiola, A. (2004, November 18) English camps reflect South Korean ambitions. Washington Post [online]. Retrieved April 18, 2006, from http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A58633-2004Nov17.html

Falk, J. H., & Dierking, L. D. (1992) The museum experience. Washington, DC: Howells House.

Falk, J. H. & Dierking, L. D. (2000) Learning from museums: Visitor experience and the making of meaning. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.

Falk, J. H., & Dierking, L. D. (2002) Lessons without limit: How free-choice learning is transforming education. Walnut Creek, CA: AltaMira Press.

Finch, A., & Shin, D. (2005) Integrating teaching and assessment in the EFL classroom: A practical guide for teachers in Korea. Seoul: Sahoipyungnon Publishing Co.

Gardner, H. (1983/2003) Frames of mind: The theory of multiple intelligences. New York: Basic Books.

Gardner, R.C. (1985) Social psychology and second language learning: The role of attitudes and motivation. London: Edward Arnold.

Gardner, R. C. (1988) The socio-educational model of second language learning: Assumptions, findings, and issues. Language Learning, 38(1), 100-125.

Growing number of your children studying overseas. (2007, September 27) The Chosun Ilbo [online]. Retrieved January 12, 2008, from http://english.chosun.com/w21data/html/news/200709/200709270016.html

Hein, G. (1991) Constructivist learning theory. In CECA conference proceedings. Retrieved January 28, 2006, from www.exploratorium.edu/IFI/resources/ constructivist learning.html

Hein, G. (1995) The constructivist museum. Gem News. Retrieved February 3, 2006, from http://www.gem.org.uk/pubs/news/hein1995.html

Hein, G. (1998) Learning in the museum. London: Routledge. Retrieved April 29, 2006, from www.questia.com

Institute for Learning Innovation. (2006) Contextual model of learning. Retrieved April 28, 2006, from http://www.ilinet.org/contextualmodel.htm

Kellner, D. (2004) Toward a critical theory of education. Retrieved April 25, 2006, from http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/faculty/kellner/essays/towardcriticaltheoryofed.pdf

Kim, S.-Y. (2005) Peer-assisted learning: Implications for content-based English classes. English Teaching, 60(3), 67-89.

Kim, T.-Y. (2005) Reconceptualizing L2 motivation theory: Vygotskian Activity Theory approach. English Teaching, 60(4), 299-322.

Korea Ministry of Education. (2005) Brief statistics on Korean education. Retrieved May 28, 2006, from http://english.moe.go.kr/statistics/2005_statistics.pdf

Krashen, S. (1979) The monitor model for second language acquisition. In R. Gingras (Ed.), Second language acquisition and foreign language teaching. CAL.

Krashen, S. (1981) Second language acquisition and second language learning. Pergamon Press. Retrieved January 2, 2008, from http://www.sdkrashen.com/SL_Acquisition_and_Learning/index.html

Krashen, S. (1982) Principles and practices in second language acquisition. Oxford, UK: Pergamon.

Krashen, S. (1985) The input hypothesis: Issues and implications. Longman.

Krashen, S. (2006, April 20) Letter: English villages and hype. Taipei Times. Retrieved July 12, 2006, from http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2006/04/20

Krashen, S., & Terrell, T. (1983) The natural approach: Language acquisition in the classroom. Oxford, UK: Pergamon.

Lantolf, J. P. (2000a) Second language learning as a mediated process. Language Teaching, 33, 79-96.

Lantolf, J. P. (Ed.) (2000b) Sociocultural theory and second language learning. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Lantolf, J. P. (2002) Sociocultural theory and second language acquisition. In R. B. Kaplan (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of applied linguistics (pp. 104-114) Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Lantolf, J. P., & Appel, G. (Eds.) (1994) Vygotskian approaches to second language research. Norwood, NJ: Ablex.

Lantolf, J. P., & Thorne, S. L. (2006) Sociocultural theory and the genesis of second language development. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Lave, J., & Wenger, E. (1990) Situated learning: Legitimate peripheral participation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Lee, B.-M. (2006) Theoretical re-assessment of Kyeonggi English Village curriculum (6- day program) (English translation) Seoul: Seoul National University Press.

Liddicoat, A. J. (2004) Language policy and methodology. International Journal of English Studies. Retrieved May 12, 2006, from http://www.um.es/dp-filologiainglesa/ ijes/vol4n1/08-AJLiddicoat.pdf

Lightbown, P., & Spada, N. (1999) How languages are learned. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Lightbown, P. M., & Spada, N. (2006) How languages are learned. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Lim, J.-H. (2005) Class reproduction and competing ideologies in Korean K-12 education: A critical discourse on 'school collapse' between 1999 and 2000. The Sigur Center Asia Papers. Retrieved January 23, 2006, from http://www.gwu.edu/~sigur/pubs/ SCAP24-KoreanEd.pdf

Long, M. (1983) Native speaker/non-native speaker conversations and the negotiation of comprehensible input. Applied Linguistics, 4, 126-41.

Long, M., & Richards, J. C. (1987) Methodology in TESOL. Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.

Markee, N. (2002) Managing curricular innovation. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Mitchell, R., & Miles, F. (2004) Second language learning theories. London: Hodder Arnold.

Nunan, D. (1989) Designing tasks for the communicative classroom. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Nunan, D. (Ed.) (2003) Practical English language teaching. Singapore: McGraw-Hill.

Paris, S. (1999) Museum education and learning. The Informal Learning Review, 33. Retrieved February 13, 2005, from http://www.informallearning.com/archive/1999- 0304-b.htm

Park, J.-K. (2006) Korea-Japan English camp: A case study of English immersion program in Korea. English Language & Literature Teaching, 12(4), 91-115.

Piaget, J. (1967) Logique et connaissance scientifique. Encyclopédie de la Pléiade.

Pica, T., Young, R., & Doughty, C. (1987) The impact of interaction on comprehension. TESOL Quarterly, 21, 737-58.

Pimsleur, P., Sundland, D., & McIntyre, R. (1964) Underachievement in foreign language learning. International Review of Applied Linguistics, 2, 113-50.

Pugh, K. J., & Bergin, D. (2005) The effect of schooling on students' out-of-school experience. Educational Researcher, 34(9), 15-23.

Richards, J. C., & Rodgers, T. S. (2001) Approaches and methods in language teaching. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Russell, T. (1994) The enquiring visitor: Usable learning theory for museum contexts. Gem News. Retrieved February 3, 2006, from http://www.gem.org.uk/pubs/news/hein1995.html

Schauble, L., G. Leinhardt, & Martin, L. (1997) A framework for organizing a cumulative research agenda in informal learning contexts. Journal of Museum Education, 22(2&3), 3-8.

Schmidt, R. (1994) Deconstructing consciousness in search of useful definitions for applied linguistics. AILA Review, 11, 11-26.

Sohn, H.-K. (2006) Kyeonggi English Village program overview. Seoul: Kyeonggi English Village.

Swain, M. (1985) Communicative competence: Some roles of comprehensible input and comprehensible output in its development. In S. M. Gass & C. G. Madden Gass (Eds.), Input in second language acquisition. Rowley, MA: Newbury House.

Swain, M. (2000) French immersion research in Canada: Recent contributions to SLA and applied linguistics. Annual Review of Applied Linguistic, 20, 199-212.

Swain, M., & Johnson, R. K. (1997) Immersion education: A category within bilingual education. In R. K. Johnson & M. Swain (Eds.), Immersion education: International perspectives (pp. 1-16) Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Swain, M., & Lapkin, S. (1998) Interaction and second language learning: Two adolescent French immersion students working together. Modern Language Journal, 82(3), 320.

Taylor, B. (1994) Teaching ESL: Incorporating a communicative, student-centered component. In M. Long & J. C. Richards (Eds.), Methodology in TESOL (pp. 45- 60) Boston, MA: Heinle & Heinle.

Taylor, D. (1994) Inauthentic authenticity, or authentic inauthenticity? Teaching English as a Second or Foreign Language, 1(2) Retrieved April 25, 2006, from http://www-writing.berkeley.edu/TESL-EJ/ej02/a.1.html

Terrell, T., Munoz, E. M., Andrade, M., & Egasse, J. (1997) Dos mundos. Blacklick, OH: McGraw-Hill College.

Thorne, S. L. (n.d.) Cultural historical activity theory and the object of innovation. Retrieved December 1, 2006, from http://language.la.psu.edu/aplng596d/thorneinnov.html

Vygotsky, L. S. (1978) Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

Vygotsky, L. S. (1987) The collected works of L. S. Vygotsky (Vol. 1: Problems of general psychology) (ed. by R. W. Rieber & A. S. Carton) New York: Plenum Press.

Wells, G. (1999) Dialogic inquiry: Toward a sociocultural practice and theory of education. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.

Widdowson. H. G. (1990) Aspects of language teaching. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

Navigate: Archives | Contents | Top of page