영어 대화소통능력 향상을 위한 문화교육의 필요성

The Necessity for the Teaching of Culture to Enhance Communication Ability

The survey of English study in Korea Polytechnics was conducted to 357 students in Polytechnic Ⅱ (Incheon) from May 2 to May 31, 2013. The questionnaire consisted of 12 questions which were divided into 4 categories ; 1) students self-evaluation of English 2) the satisfaction of current English text books 3) the judgment of current English curricula of Korea Polytechnics 4) students goal in learning English during the academic years. I was in particular interested in the last 4th one, in which I could find out what willingly motivated them to study English for 3 consecutive semesters. According to the result analysis, the largest group of students among respondents wanted to acquire a good English conversation skill. To achieve this purpose, non-linguistic factors as well as linguistic properties should be taught. Thus, in this paper I would first like to stress that the teaching of culture is requisite in foreign language classrooms like grammar, vocabulary, and structure patterns. Second, I point out the difference between the culture of English-speaking countries and that of Korea. Third, I show a few cases through previous studies in terms of speech act, that is, refusals, complaints, compliments, and gratitudes. Finally, I also suggest five ways of how to teach intercultural features in the English classroom.