KYUNGJA AHN (SEOUL NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION)

EXPERIENCES AND PERCEPTIONS OF KOREAN ENGLISH TEACHERS USING WEB-RESOURCES ALIGNED WITH THE NATIONAL CURRICULUM : TEACHER EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

This study investigates the experiences and perceptions of Korean English teachers regarding web-resources aligned with the English National Curriculum. Reflection journals from 24 pre-service and 6 in-service elementary teachers were collected and quantitatively analyzed. The web resources were systematically linked to the English National Curriculum, taking into account the themes, student proficiency levels, and interests. The findings indicate that teachers responded positively to these web-resources, particularly appreciating their focus on everyday themes and their integration with the curriculum. This alignment allows for flexible use of the resources, enabling teachers to adapt them to meet specific classroom needs. Such flexibility supports learner-centered, curriculum-integrated, and project-based lesson planning, making the teaching process more dynamic and responsive to student needs. However, the study also revealed significant variations in the quality and comprehensiveness of the resources. Some web-resources offered a wide range of materials, including detailed in-person and online lesson plans, engaging video content, and various worksheets. In contrast, others provided only basic guidelines, which limited their utility. Additionally, many links led to pages with only text, underscoring the need for more visual aids such as lesson outcomes or activity pictures to enhance comprehension and practical application. The study underscores the considerable potential of web-resources in enriching curriculum delivery and improving teaching effectiveness. It also proposes strategies for the effective development and utilization of these resources in alignment with the themes presented in the National Curriculum, emphasizing the importance of comprehensive and visually engaging materials to support diverse teaching and learning needs.

Kyungja Ahn is a professor in the Department of English Education at the Seoul National University of Education (SNUE) in Korea. Her research interests include second language teacher education, teaching and assessing L2 learners, L2 curriculum and education policy, and technology mediated L2 learning and teaching.