In Korean language education, grammar learning is closely linked not only to the formal system of language but also to actual language use ability. However, empirical studies analyzing the relationship between learners' grammar knowledge acquisition a...
In Korean language education, grammar learning is closely linked not only to the formal system of language but also to actual language use ability. However, empirical studies analyzing the relationship between learners' grammar knowledge acquisition and one of the individual factors influencing it—Grammar Learning Strategies (GLS)—are relatively scarce. Existing research has primarily focused on strategy usage and frequency, with insufficient discussion on how specific strategies relate to grammar knowledge, particularly explicit and implicit knowledge. Therefore, this study aims to empirically analyze the relationship between grammar learning strategy use and grammar knowledge acquisition.
Chapter 2 defines the concept and types of grammar learning strategies and reviews previous research on the definitions and acquisition mechanisms of explicit and implicit grammar knowledge. Based on this, a theoretical framework is established to predict how different strategy types might affect grammar performance. The selected grammar item for this study is causative constructions (사동 표현), a challenging topic due to its morphological complexity, syntactic structure variations, and case particle constraints. Causative constructions are also considered high-level grammar in both educational contexts and textbooks, making them suitable for observing both explicit and implicit knowledge acquisition.
The grammar learning strategy questionnaire was adapted and restructured based on Pawlak (2018) to suit the Korean language learning context. It consists of 70 items across four categories: metacognitive, cognitive, affective, and social strategies. Responses were collected on a 5-point Likert scale. For measuring grammar knowledge, a Timed Grammaticality Judgment Task (TGJT) and a Metalinguistic Knowledge Test (MKT) focusing on causative constructions were administered, with items categorized by error type.
The study participants included 108 intermediate and advanced Chinese learners of Korean, who completed both the strategy questionnaire and the grammar knowledge tests sequentially. Data were analyzed using SPSS, employing descriptive statistics, t-tests, regression analysis, and Steiger’s Z-test to compare the predictive differences between strategy types.
Chapter 4 first analyzes the patterns of grammar learning strategy use among learners, reviewing differences based on background variables and proficiency levels. It then examines the overall grammar knowledge acquisition, focusing on the acquisition of causative constructions by error type. Lastly, the relationship between grammar learning strategies and grammar knowledge is empirically explored. The results show that overall strategy use did not significantly correlate with either explicit or implicit grammar knowledge. However, when analyzed by strategy type, clear differences emerged. Cognitive strategies were positively correlated with both types of grammar knowledge, while affective and metacognitive strategies showed negative correlations. Social strategies did not exhibit any significant correlation. Furthermore, the differences in predictive power between strategy types were statistically significant, indicating that the relationship between grammar knowledge acquisition and strategy use can vary according to the learner's proficiency and strategy type.
Chapter 5 presents educational discussions and implications based on the results of the analysis. This study provides foundational data for the future design of grammar instruction and strategy-based guidance in Korean language education.