Korean University Students’ Experiences and Beliefs about Medium of Instruction in English Speaking Classes

The purpose of this study is to further understand Korean university students’ perception using English as a primary medium instruction in speaking classes, along with their beliefs about what language would prove the most beneficial instruction. This aims present that students hold which language(s) should be employed and for reasons, well whether these vary depending on proficiency. research was based responses given by after having direct experience participating classes taught English. used survey questionnaire source data contained multiple choice questions, Likert-scale, open-ended questions. Data collected from total 135 predominantly first-year who self-reported being at beginner intermediate-levels. A combination quantitative qualitative approaches were analyze data. Descriptive statistics series independent sample t-tests questions Likert-scale content analysis applied revealed had positive experiences advantages English-only included English-rich environment, improved familiarity English, emotional response, increased attentiveness importantly, improvement At same time, also reported difficulties understanding lectures instructions communicating teachers They coped various strategies, such machine translators asking However, beginner-level more self-reliant while intermediate-level balanced use self-sufficiency human resources. Regarding instruction, both intermediate believed remain class moderate L1 suggested. Specifically, agreed may provide benefits academic, affective, managerial domains. found advantageous than students. findings suggest employing an across varying proficiency levels discusses methods might considered when one allowing extent under certain circumstances.