(20508 민효민) Week 2

What is my current topic?

 My current topic is " Why Korean students are struggling with English composition and Speaking in English. (Except for the reason that Korea is not a country where English is official language.)  I want to research about reasons that influence to student's English composition with emphasis on cognitive, psychological, and     environmental factors. ( But, it can be changed )  My final persuasive essay will be structured to suggest           more effective solutions for improving this situation. First, i will refer the problems that brought this results     and next i will explain what we have to do and resolutions. 

What are my guiding questions?

As i said it before, i am curious about why students have difficulties on writing and speaking in English even though they are good at reading comprehension and grammar part. I want to know how the situations have appeared and whether there is any solution for changing this unfortunate situations. I think Korean parents who will start children's education and who are already in education might have interests in my essay. And then, they will be curious about how we can protect this results from happening and what is the best way to educate our kids.

What are my current thoughts?


I already know many students in Korea including me have difficulties on writing a classical essay , even students who are called "Top". I think the problem is in a conservative instructional method that has been entrenched in Korean society. Teaching by rote that hinders students' creativity and initiative, educational tendency that put finding grammatical error on writing and speaking, and the absence of systemic composition teaching, and so on. I think it is time to change some of old fashion of English education.


What is the opposition?

Some people might think the ability to write and speak in English are not important to their life. So, they can disagree with me with that reason. Also, they can refer to the impossibility to educate children a systemic English composition course because there are few teachers who have learned the course of writing.  

(20508 민효민) Week 1

Brainstorm thoughts about the various topics, what are you curious about? What do you want to write a persuasive essay about?

Cognitive skill
English?
English composition?
Education
Literature?
English composition?
linguistic skill
Why are students struggling with writing...... Especially, Korean students.....have difficulties on expressing their thoughts in writing. People think, think again, and think again and again....  and finally, they are more likely to put it up or give it up. 
What is the problem?
1. Because Korean students have less developed cognitive skill? logic? than that of other countries like Sweden, USA... and so on. 
2. Because Korean students don't read many books.
3. Because Korean students have never learned systemic writing course.
4. Most Korean students are afraid with writing - they worry about other people's comments for their works.

 especially in English composition......

Although many of them get good grades on Listening comprehension , Reading comprehension, and grammar, they are struggling with writing in English.
1. Because of today's the form of English education.
2. The entrance test called 수능 is too  excessively emphasized to have interests in English composition or English speaking.
3. Because students haven't any content to write.


Now, I am curious about the reason why Korean students including me are struggling with English composition and Speaking in English. Then, i will approach essay topic with cognitive, psychological, and environmental factors. 


Topic: Why Korean students have difficulty in writing and speaking in English 

• Cognitive factor
• Psychological factor
• Environmental factor