A study of university students' English learning style: Based on Modern Family

Im, Mi Jin; Kim, Hye Jeong

Article

Journal of English Teaching through Movies and Media 2013;14(1):159-180.
Published online March 30, 2013.

A study of university students' English learning style: Based on Modern Family

Mi Jin Im, Hye Jeong Kim

대학생의 영어 학습스타일에 관한 연구

임미진, 김혜정

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to explore university students' attitudes toward their English learning. The university English education reinforcement policy in Korea has lately become unsatisfactory. One of the main causes is that the policy does not represent the characteristics of university students' language learning. This study focuses on two case study groups, A and B for about two months. The sit-com Modern Family, Season 3, Episode 2 was used as study material. The result is that both group A and B had prepared their lessons without any effect on their learning. Neither group reviewed the lessons. When group A was forced to check their learning, it showed their capacity to digest up to 70 percent of what they had learned. In the interview Group B stated that they wanted forced activities although they were not asked to do them. This study suggests an English learning/teaching method for university students. First, it is necessary that we should give students the minimum amount of work and some compulsion to do it since they prefer this. Second, although university students want some compulsion, there should not be any emotional burden or anything that affects their lives. Finally, learning should last a couple of years (2 years) with the minimum amount of learning and compulsion. This is the period for which university students could experience the effect of learning.

Key Words: adult language learners;university students;learning style;Modern Family