A study of the attitudes of Korean adults toward technology-assisted instruction in English-language programs

Computer applications in English as a foreign/second language classrooms are increasing in developing countries around the world. Currently researchers and scholars within the Republic of Korea (hereafter referred to as South Korea) are lacking important information in this area. Most studies of computer applications conducted in South Korea have focused on learners who have already experienced substantial exposure to computers. However, minimal information exists regarding the perceptions and attitudes toward computer use in language learning by Korean adults who have minimal exposure to instructional computing.; The purpose of this study was to examine attitudes of a selected sample of Korean adult English-language learners toward computers and their use as learning tools in the English as a foreign language classroom. To this end, three research questions were posed: What are attitudes of Korean adult English-language learners toward the learning of the English language? What are attitudes of Korean adult English-language learners toward computers in general? What are attitudes of Korean adult English-language learners toward the use of computers in English-language learning?; To answer the research questions, an instrument was developed that attempted to measure attitudes of the selected sample of Korean adult English-language learners. The instrument was completed by 603 Korean adult students of English as a foreign language. Data were analyzed using a combination of statistical measures, including chi square and analysis of variance.; Results revealed that a significant portion of this sample of Korean adult language learners did not have a positive attitude toward the use of computers in English-language learning. One reason for this attitude may be the lack of exposure by members of this sample group to computers in their previous learning experiences. Awareness of this attitude, for example, will be helpful to adult educators in Korea who are working to introduce more advanced instructional technologies in the classroom in order to keep pace with an advancing technological society.