Highest TESOL Center

Problems for learners in KoreaMany english learners in different countries face different obstacles while trying to learn english. In South Korea there are many cultural differences that play into the challenge of learning this widespread language that hinder some students’ ability to successfully grasp key aspects of the english language. Differences in native languages and cultural pressures present varying difficulties for some students that prevent them from becoming completely successful speakers of the english language. Phonology is the study of sound as produced by the human vocals. The differences in sound systems in Korean compared to english make pronouncing some letters or combination of letters and words difficult for many students. Many sounds found in english do not exist in Korean, which often results in an incorrect substitution of sounds. An example of this would be the sound “f” found in words like finish. In Korean, this sound is unfamiliar, so often times english learners tend to substitute the “f” sound for a “p” sound. The result is something similar to “pinish,” which is clearly an incorrect pronunciation of the word. One way that teachers can help with teaching the differences in phonology is teaching these sounds in pairs. There are some homologous pairs in Korean and english that only vary when a voice is put behind the movement. The differences between the two sounds are described as a “voiced” sound and “unvoiced” sound. An example of these differences can be exemplified with the sounds P/? and B/?. The P sound is unvoiced because the sound is made by simply going through the formations with ones’ mouth. The B is the same mouth formation but voiced with sound behind the motion. Examples like these are helpful when teaching students in South Korea because it takes a sound or word they’re familiar with and helps them form or and pronounce words and sounds that they’re unfamiliar with. Also similar to the issue of Phonology, intonation is a huge problem for Korean students learning english. While speaking Korean, the voice is meant to sound fairly mono-toned and one-dimensional. This creates a problem when students talk and read in english. They can sound uninterested and unsure of what they’re saying when speaking with little to no expression. In english, intonation is very important when using expression listing things, showing moods or opinions, and putting emphasis on something. english relies so much on intonation that the same sentence said in different tones can convey a completely different message. Because of the importance intonation plays in the english language, Korean students who don’t grasp the expressions often fail to learn the language successfully. Another major obstacle that Korean students face is a difference in classroom culture. In Korea it is “shameful” not to answer a question and when a teacher calls on a student that is not sure of his/her answer, the student often times acts ashamed and looks down on the ground or becomes silent. This behavior is rooted in the fact that Korean students are always in competition with each other and they are afraid that other students will feel superior to them because they don’t know what to say. As an english teacher, these pressures can affect classroom productivity. Students who are afraid to share answers or have a constant fear of failure in front of peers won’t participate in class. This lack of participation or feeling of constant doubt is not conducive to effectively learning english. Pronunciation and learning from mistakes is key in the learning any language, which means that teachers must work hard to ensure that students don’t become embarrassed or put on the spot too much. As you can see, english learners in different countries may face different obstacles while learning english. Sometimes knowing the answer on paper doesn’t mean that he/she knows english well. Differences in native languages compared to english sometimes make becoming fluent very difficult and pronunciation is a huge obstacle for many people. Students need to understand the similar parallels but also grasp the differences in languages when trying to study. Teachers can address these issues if they understand the cultural differences and how to approach them in an effective way.