전자사전활용이 한국 고등학생의 영어 독해에 미치는 영향에 관한 연구

Abstract

This study examines the current status of electronic dictionary use by Korean high school students and to what degree e-dictionaries may be useful in helping to improve learners' overall English skills. It also investigates the effects of using e-dictionaries on English reading ability by the EFL learners. The subjects were 152 high school students and they were divided into two groups: An ED user group and a non-user group. I also classify the two groups were further classified with their school achievement test results. The instrument employed was the Preliminary Student Usage Questionnaire, which was developed by the researcher, together with the questionnaire survey developed by Park (2006). The reading comprehension test was taken from a commercially available textbook appropriate for the subjects' level. Based on the analyses data obtained from the questionnaire surveys on the e-dictionary use and reading comprehension test, the study found the following results: First, the use of e-dictionary seems to make a significant difference on learners' overall English skills. Second. learners' positive attitude towards the use of e-dictionaries tends to make a beneficial effect on reading comprehension. On the basis of the results, the researcher suggests that a more positive attitude and interest toward the use of e-dictionaries should make a significant difference on English learning ability. The findings from this research highlight the importance of using e-dictionaries for improving EFL learners' reading abilities. As a result, we need to help learners have a chance to make a good use of e-dictionaries and improve learners' vocabulary abilities in the classroom. This enables English learners to improve their reading abilities.