An exploratory study on the digital identity formation of Korean university EFL learners

초록

The present study aims to sketch the contours of new media ecology for Korean university students as well as to examine how these learners shape and negotiate their digital identity by using social networking services and digital devices. It also investigates their use of digital media for learning English as a foreign language (EFL). In total, 652 Korean university students completed a questionnaire, and a subset of this group participated in semi-structured interviews. The findings show that Korean university students are well integrated into new media ecology, and display emerging characteristics such as the use of social networking services on a daily basis, possession of wireless digital gadgets, and experience in studying online lectures. Also, they engage in digital media largely for the purpose of maintaining friendships with their peers and families, but prefer to keep a low profile in networked public cultures and "interest-driven participation" (Ito et al., 2010). On the other hand, these students have utilised new media for EFL learning to a large extent, but they are not fully engaged in globally networked target language communities.

키워드