This study uses critical race theory as a lens and narrative inquiry as a methodological tool to examine how the term native English speaker (NES) is socially constructed when subscribed to two Black teachers of English (BTE) working in South Korea's secondary educational system. In addition to examining how these two BTEs interpret themselves as…

Via globalization, an increasing number of young English language learners have gone to English-speaking countries to acquire English skills as early as possible. As a result, quite a number of learners have returned to their countries of origin with new sets of skills and competencies. Focusing on this new group of English learners, this study…

The aim of this study is to analyze a videoconferencing class for English as a foreign language (EFL), and to investigate how learners can develop their linguistic competence via videoconferencing. It examines the benefits and drawbacks of using videoconferencing systems in class. Forty-five students (19 graduates and 26 undergraduates) in a…

From the perspective of World Englishes (i.e., varieties of English in different regions of the world), mutual intelligibility is a key issue for both listeners and speakers. Nevertheless, learners often have an idealized notion of native-speaker spoken norms and may be in favor of more prestigious inner circle models than others. This study…

In South Korea, as in many other parts of the world, children begin learning English when they are very young. Korean parents want their children to learn English as quickly as possible and often make heavy financial and other investments in their children's English language education. English language teachers of school-age learners in Korea…