Korean EFL Learners' Perspectives on ELT Materials Evaluation Criteria

This study investigates Korean university-level adult learners' opinions on ELT materials evaluation criteria based on the data collected quantitatively through questionnaire of pre-published evaluation checklist and qualitatively from interview and report paper. Quantitative data were collected from 496 survey respondents and qualitative data from 41 interview participants and 30 report-paper submitters. With regard to ELT materials evaluation criteria, the learners have general consensus on the importance of the criteria. 'The quality of audio materials,' and 'affordable price and availability' are considered critically important by the learners whereas 'application of well-established methodology' and 'instruction of individual pronunciation' are relatively less important criteria. It was found that the learners can be qualified evaluators when they are to evaluate their own course books or selfaccess materials in that they have generally systematic and consistent perspectives on the criteria, and pay substantial attention to in-depth evaluation criteria. The findings suggest that learners' opinions on materials evaluation should be widely utilized in English teaching and learning, and materials writing.