Korean Wave and informal language learning: Learners' perspectives in online spaces

Files

KoreanWaveandInformalLanguageLearningYoon2025Acceptedversion.pdf (524.91 KB)

Links to Files

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781003536949-11/korean-wave-informal-language-learning-kyung-eun-yoon

Permanent Link

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003536949
 http://hdl.handle.net/11603/41673

Collections

UMBC Asian Studies
UMBC Faculty Collection
UMBC Modern Languages, Linguistics & Intercultural Communication Department

Author/Creator

Author/Creator ORCID

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3166-4809

Date

2025-12-03

Type of Work

book chapters
postprints
Text

Department

Program

Citation of Original Publication

Yoon, Kyung-Eun. “Korean Wave and Informal Language Learning: Learners’ Perspectives in Online Spaces.” in The Korean Case for Youth Language Learning, edited by Nicola Fraschini and Jieun Kiaer. London: Taylor and Francis, 2025. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003536949

Rights

It is deposited under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives License Deed - Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International - Creative Commons, which permits non-commercial re-use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, and is not altered, transformed, or built upon in any way.

Subjects

Abstract

This chapter explores Korean language learners’ perspectives on how their language learning intersects with Korean popular culture. It analyses learner discourse on the social media platform Reddit, focusing on learners’ motivations, the materials and methods they use, the effectiveness of these resources, and the sociocultural impacts of their learning. By exploring learners’ use of informal resources like K-pop and K-drama, the chapter illustrates the role of popular media in language learning and sociocultural integration. It offers significant insights into how their learning experiences, identities, and investment intersect within Norton's (Norton, 2013) framework. The findings suggest that while informal media resources have limitations, particularly in learning grammar, integrating them into formal instruction can enhance learner engagement and investment. This study thus proposes aligning classroom instruction with learners’ interests in Korean popular culture, emphasising sociocultural dimensions, and fostering self-reflection on identity to strengthen connections between language learning and cultural understanding and empower learners to engage meaningfully with Korean media and culture.