Communication difficulties of Korean foreign students in the tertiary level of Central Philippine University

Abstract

This study was conducted to investigate the various specific English communication difficulties of Korean foreign students in the tertiary level. Twenty students were randomly selected from different colleges of Central Philippine University during the second semester of 2009-2010. A survey questionnaire was used to identify the factors that contribute to their communication difficulties. Based on the year level, length of stay in the Philippines, and the respondents' exposure to the different languages used in the classroom and English proficiency background. The study was purposely conducted to investigate such learning difficulties to address problems as such in the near future. It study found out the similarity of various specific communication difficulties of the subjects. The strong factors that contribute to the communication difficulties of the students are their less exposure to the English language in terms of social communication, lack of vocabulary, watching English movies, reading, and occasional code switching of their teachers from English to Hiligaynon and vice versa. It was recommended that foreign students such as Koreans expose themselves on conversational English in social meetings, tutorials, and media to be at par with their Filipino counterparts. Filipino teachers are also encouraged to always use English as medium of instruction.