INFLUENCE OF ENGLISH PROFICIENCY ON KOREAN LANGUAGE LEARNING: A CASE STUDY AT THE FACULTY OF KOREAN LANGUAGE AND CULTURE, VNU UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

Abstract

This research employs a mixed-methods approach, including literature review and field survey to examine how English proficiency affects Korean acquisition. Specifically, it investigates the advantages and challenges experienced by English-background students at the Faculty of Korean Language and Culture, University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The research categories and analyzes the effects of English proficiency on particular skill groups, including Listening - Reading, Vocabulary - Grammar, and Speaking - Writing, corresponding to the Korean A and Korean B courses in the official curriculum. The findings indicate that these students leverage their English reflexes, reading skills, and vocabulary knowledge to recognize loanwords and develop effective test-taking strategies. However, due to syntactic differences between these two languages, the learners encounter significant obstacles, especially in speaking and writing skills. The study identifies grammatical disparities and lack of bilingual practice environments as the primary barriers. Based on these findings, the research proposes several solutions to enhance both learning and teaching methods, aiming to maximize the bilingual advantages of students with strong English foundations.