On the basis of the announcement on the amendment to the 7th Education Curriculum, an authorized book has been selected to be utilized with the English textbook as a workbook for learning activities.
The new book for English learning activities has ...
On the basis of the announcement on the amendment to the 7th Education Curriculum, an authorized book has been selected to be utilized with the English textbook as a workbook for learning activities.
The new book for English learning activities has been developed to satisfy students’ desire to enhance their efficiency, and to resolve problems that have been identified in the established English textbooks currently being utilized. There were numerous researches that have been performed to analyze and establish English textbooks, but the research and effort to analyze the material in order to determine their degree of difficulty has not been adequately accomplished yet.
What system is composed of books for learning activities for the first grade of middle school. Additionally, is this system suitable for measuring the degree of difficulty for each level of learning.
First, there were eight different kinds of English activity workbooks, were utilized in considering the rates of selection for the English activity workbooks. After selecting the designated English activity workbooks for evaluation, an evaluation form was developed to identify the areas of concerned and the types of materials that were preferred by teachers who teach first grade middle school students on a daily basis. This evaluation was completed after an exhaustive consultation with numerous professionally certified English teachers teaching at middle schools throughout the Republic of Korea. The content of the evaluation was also utilized to determine the appropriate amount of variety to be considered in the evaluation of a possible new English activity workbook.
Second, the frequency by task and level for each learning activity was evaluated. I examined the frequency for each task within its sphere of influence, recognition to the different kinds of tasks were identified by each level, and a determination of the parameters for the basis of my judgment were instituted. Also, the documents were analyzed to determine the degree of difficulty for each task by the designated level for the learning activity, and then it was checked for appropriateness.
Third, a comparative study of the activity by level for each of the units in the activity was made. Then the activities which had no difference in levels or a wrong tasks were analyzed. As a result, recognition to the degree of difficulty by each task and identified numerous areas to be inadequate. Then I examined the rate and checked up the difference in the degree of difficulty to determine the suitability of the book. The inadequacy rate in case of the G activity workbook was 11.5%. This inadequacy level is regarded as inadequate in the degree of difficulty with such highest rate. The inadequacy rate for the D activity workbook was 3.2%. This inadequacy rating is regarded as suitable in the degree of difficulty as compared to the eight kinds of activity workbooks.
Fourth, I analyzed the degree of difficulty for the vocabulary by the various levels for each activity workbook through Corpus linguistics. I compared and analyzed the vocabulary based on the rate of vocabulary utilization Type-Token Ratio (TTR). I applied the formula of Flesch Reading Ease, Fog Scale Level, and the Flesch-Kincaid Level. As a result, the highest workbook, in degree of difficulty with the English language, is D activity workbook with a score of 81.1 and A activity workbook is the easiest. In case of the Fog Scale and Flesch-Kincaid Level, the numerical values were 6.3 and 4.3 respectfully. G activity workbook for the learning activity, is most difficult.
Finally, questionnaires were distributed to 32 English teachers who teach the first grade of middle school. Questions regarding the teaching mythology utilized with the activity, the degree of difficulty, and their professional opinions were invited. As seen in most of the activity workbooks, we recognized in regard to the differences in the degree of difficulty. I arrived at the conclusion in which the differences in the tasks with the English language should be accomplished.
It is difficult for me to attempt to isolate a specific activity workbook that is appropriately arranged for the purpose of teaching English thoroughly in degree of language and tasks through this limited research. I would like to exhibit a suitable direction to develop teaching material that is not being biased to one way with consideration based on the degree of difficulty from one step of development to another, and this should improve an activity workbook.