An Attitudinal Profile of EFL Learners in Korea

Research into attitudes and learning preferences of Korean second-language learners has, until recently, been carried out mostly in ESL environments, and has yielded a particular profile of the Korean learner abroad. For learners who remain in their mother country, however, such profiles are inadequate descriptors of what and how Asian EFL students learn. This study therefore set out to make a longitudinal learning profile of a particular group of EFL students in Korea. While the results were not intended as general statements about Korean students, it was hypothesized that culture-dependent, localized characteristics would become apparent, and that these would be more indicative of intrinsic attitudes and learning styles than out-of-country research. Results collected over three semesters showed evidence of a high level of awareness in the students, regarding active learning styles and strategies. This awareness reflects recent research in Asia, and raises the “nature/nurture” question with respect to learning styles and preferences. Finally, it is suggested that more attention might be given to the learning environment as a determiner of learning outcomes.