Analysis of Instructor Characteristics Influencing Korean Students’ Achievement in English Classes

Abstract

Korean universities have made great efforts to explore good characteristics of high-quality instructors in EFL curriculum to improve students’ English proficiency. In our study, we observed twelve instructor characteristics affecting engineering students’ achievement in a standards-based Freshmen English class with a common syllabus and a common final exam based on a common textbook, and a special unified grading system in all. Based on the final grade of the Freshmen EFL class for engineering students, we explored significant instructor characters influencing students’ achievement in two categories: the instructors’ demographical backgrounds and their attitudes towards individual contacts with students. Possession of certificates and keeping office hours turned out to be statistically significant and necessary characteristics of instructors.