Influence of Teaching English Through English on Korean EFL Learners?

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of Teaching English Through English (TETE) on EFL learners? anxiety levels in regards to their speaking abilities. Students in TETE instructed classrooms were expected to have lower anxiety levels and higher preference of the TETE class than the non-TETE class. For this purpose, the researcher sampled a total of one hundred fifty six Year 13 Korean students in their regular high school setting. The participants were divided into two groups, a TETE instructed group and a non-TETE instructed group. The participants were surveyed using two questionnaires which sought to measure their anxiety levels and their preferences to the type of instruction received for learning English. The result of this study can be summarized as follows; First, EFL learner?s speaking anxiety levels may be lowered by adopting the TETE approach. The findings of this study suggest that TETE has a considerable influence on Korean high school students? speaking anxiety levels ? which helps to reduce it. Second, learners? believe that the TETE approach is more beneficial to their learning than a non-TETE approach. In short, TETE is a highly effective component of reducing learners? anxiety levels and learners themselves believe that TETE is an effective aid of reducing their anxiety. Based on the above findings, the following suggestions were put forward; First, TETE is a highly useful and important method to help lower EFL learners? speaking anxiety levels. Second, TETE encourages EFL learners? to speak more in English as well as giving them more opportunities to do so Third, greater majority of Korean high school students should consider adopting the TETE method into their English classes. In summary, the TETE methodology is a useful tool in helping to lower EFL learners? speaking anxiety levels. Further research should continue to examine its influence of the teaching methodology.