세계어로서 영어교육과 초등학생들의 영어발음에 대한 인식

Teaching English as a world language and elementary school students' views of English pronunciation

Korean English Education has adopted the view of English as a world language since 2007 Curriculum Reform. Within the new approach, once aspired aim of native-likeness has been replaced by comprehensible intelligibility. With respect to pronunciation, emulating native-like pronunciation is not the aim but comprehensible pronunciation is considered sufficient. However, studies have reported of teachers' and learners' views in discord with these principles in educational policy. In this area of research, little attention has been paid to elementary students' views. This study explores a class of fifth grade elementary students' views of English pronunciation. 22 students' responses on a questionnaire survey were examined. Four of the students and the native speaker teacher were interviewed. The results show that the students tend to think that attaining native-like pronunciation is important. The findings of the study suggest the need for larger scale research on elementary students' views of the issue and for appropriate education regarding English pronunciation in the context of English as a world language.