College level English Language Learners' narrations of their educational experiences learning English.

Abstract

The purpose of this research study was to investigate advanced level English as a second language learners’ perceptions of learning English. The participants were collegiate level international education students from South Korea currently attending a college in New York State. Four advanced level English language learners were interviewed to determine their perceptions of learning English as a second language. The literature that informed the study consists of language learning theory, beneficial practice for teaching English, and pertinent research on education in South Korea. The responses were coded for themes commonly represented in the interviews. The respondents were successful college level advanced English language learners. The findings call in to question the commonly held theory that Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills are easier and more readily acquired than Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency, particularly for this population of Asian college level students educated to be successful in an English language academic setting.