Using Web-Based Tools for Flipped ESL Learning in the Korean Language Education System

Abstract

With the continued proliferation of digital technologies, students are absorbing more information than ever. As a result, the relationship between students and teachers in a traditional face-to-face classroom can be limiting. As the flipped classroom approach has emerged, the classroom culture has changed. The active environment, interactive approach, and content-specific flipped learning has great potential for the ESL-learning context, especially for Korean college students. Korean college students were accustomed to the face-to-face, top-down structure of learning, and flipped learning provided an opportunity for them to look at and experience learning differently. More specifically, the top-down relationship between teacher and student shifted into a more balanced and interactive learning culture. The positive aspects of flipped learning were beneficial for the Korean ESL college students. This chapter features a case study of a college English language conversation class in Korea and explores how to set up a flipped classroom through web-based tools in order to keep the students motivated and generate a participatory environment.