Full metadata record
DC FieldValueLanguage
dc.contributorFaculty of Humanitiesen_US
dc.contributor.advisorKim, Sun-A (CBS)en_US
dc.contributor.advisorFung, Roxana (CBS)en_US
dc.contributor.advisorFeng, William (ENGL)en_US
dc.creatorSim, Sin Ae-
dc.identifier.urihttps://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/11344-
dc.languageEnglishen_US
dc.publisherHong Kong Polytechnic Universityen_US
dc.rightsAll rights reserveden_US
dc.titleExplicit and implicit instruction, and individual differences in L2 Korean phonological rule learningen_US
dcterms.abstractThis dissertation investigates the relative efficacy of explicit and implicit instruction on Korean phonological rule learning, and how individual differences in working memory capacity, foreign language learning ability, and motivation predict the learning of Korean phonological rules. Eighty-two learners in a beginning-level Korean course at a university participated in a classroom experiment for a semester. The participants received either explicit or implicit instruction on five different Korean phonological rules, namely, resyllabification, obstruent nasal assimilation, post-nasal verb stem tensification, h-deletion, and aspiration. They also completed tests for measuring verbal working memory, visuospatial working memory, phoneme identification ability, phonetic coding ability, rote memory in foreign language learning, and motivation. This thesis attempted to answer three research questions. First, between explicit and implicit instruction, which is more effective in L2 learning of Korean phonological rules? Second, what are the effects of explicit and implicit instruction on learners with different working memory capacities (high or low)? Third, how do individual differences in working memory (verbal and visuospatial), phoneme identification ability, phonetic coding ability, rote memory in foreign language learning, or motivation affect L2 learning of Korean phonological rules? Results suggest that the explicit instruction was more effective than implicit instruction. The difference between the explicit and implicit groups was more recognizable in the acquisition of relatively complicated phonological rules, while the explicit and implicit groups performed equally well in straightforward, high-frequency phonological rules. When divided by high and low working memory groups, explicit and implicit instruction were equally effective for the high verbal working memory group, while explicit instruction was more effective for the low verbal working memory group. This result shows that different teaching methods may lead to different learning outcomes depending on learners' individual differences in working memory capacity. A regression analysis revealed that visuospatial working memory predicts learning of Korean phonological rules in an inverse relationship, suggesting that learners with strong visuospatial working memory pay particular attention to the written form of Korean letters. Also, regression analysis results provide evidence that individual differences in language learning aptitude and motivation affect the learning outcomes of the implicit instruction group. The results of this research are expected to provide insights to the field of second language acquisition by discovering how and to what extent the effectiveness of different teaching methods and individual differences in cognitive abilities are related. The findings are discussed in terms of pedagogical implications for the field of Korean as a Foreign Language and are expected to contribute to the teaching and learning of Korean phonological rules.en_US
dcterms.extentx, 158 pages : color illustrationsen_US
dcterms.isPartOfPolyU Electronic Thesesen_US
dcterms.issued2021en_US
dcterms.educationalLevelDALSen_US
dcterms.educationalLevelAll Doctorateen_US
dcterms.LCSHKorean language -- Study and teachingen_US
dcterms.LCSHKorean language -- Phonologyen_US
dcterms.LCSHSecond language acquisitionen_US
dcterms.LCSHHong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertationsen_US
dcterms.accessRightsrestricted accessen_US

Files in This Item:
File Description SizeFormat 
5876.pdfFor All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only)1.27 MBAdobe PDFView/Open


Copyright Undertaking

As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:

  1. I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
  2. I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
  3. I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.

By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.

Show simple item record

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/11344