Replication of Communities of Practice via a Multimedia-based Vocabulary Learning Tool to Enhance Sociolinguistic Competence

Abstract

This study explored the possibility of using a multimedia tool as an effective channel to enhance the sociolinguistic competence of learners outside of Korea who are taking Korean as a second language (L2). Singaporean learners of L2 Korean at the National University of Singapore (NUS) are generally high-achieving in terms of their linguistic knowledge. However, they lack considerable sociolinguistic competence in comparison with other aspects (e.g. accuracy). This is perhaps due to their lack of exposure to communities of practice, which is considered crucial to achieving sociolinguistic competence (Albirini, 2015). To enhance such learners’ sociolinguistic exposure to non-Korean communities in a practical yet meaningful way, a multimedia tool was developed to replicate these communities of practice. This tool is an online dictionary which enables searches in a video library to present 10-second video clips which include the searched word. These clips are presented alongside contextual information such as venue, interlocutors, and scenarios, in addition to literal information. To understand learners’ behaviour and the development of sociolinguistic competence, the author conducted semi-structured interviews and journaling with eight L2 Korean learners on their experience with the tool. The study revealed that the tool indeed impacted their learning behaviour, such as in noticing the information, metacognitive activities, and supplementary action. With regard to sociolinguistic competence, their receptive abilities were developed through interaction between their prior knowledge and newly acquired knowledge using the tool. However, as there is no evidence of enhanced sociolinguistic competence in production, a follow-up to this study is proposed to investigate this aspect to further enhance the sociolinguistic competence of L2 learners.