Introductory ICL classes for EFL college students: in-person and online classes for newly admitted students at a Korean science and engineering school

Abstract

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is the most renowned science and engineering school in Korea, and 84% of undergraduate classes are taught in English. The EFL program at the university offers a three-week intensive English language camp to newly admitted students between January and February before an academic year starts. This year the camp was offered to 194 students online due to COVID-19. One of the camp programs is an integrated content and language (ICL) program, which is offered in the five subjects of biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics, and physics. Each ICL segment consists of a pre-language class, content lecture, and post-language class. The study attempts to compare the results of this year’s online program with those of the previous in-person programs. The study conducts statistical analysis of students’ evaluations and qualitative analysis of the interview results with the language and content professors and the teaching assistants. The evaluations show that this year students had a lower-level of satisfaction with the ICL program (4.05/5.00) than that of the past three years (4.17 on average; 4.21 at its highest). The study investigates the reasons for the drop in students’ satisfaction levels. Furthermore, it investigates the strengths and weaknesses of the online program and the in-person programs by analyzing the interview data. The study concludes by making suggestions for the improvement of introductory online and in-person ICL programs for EFL college students.