Lee, C. (2014, September). Usage of the definite article represented from online self-correction: In the context of Korean EFL learners’ compositions. Paper presented at the meeting of KAMALL Annual Conference 2014. Seoul, Korea. [Abstract] This study is a quantitative analysis of definite article usage by Korean Learners of English as a Foreign Language (EFL). This paper aims to investigate errors in the usage of the definite article. The correct usages of the definite article are a complex matter and for the purposes of this study we shall be investigating only the following cases; a) ‘the’ + modifier + noun b) ‘the’ + noun This paper will look to determine if the deletion rate of the English definite article is higher if the definite article precede a ‘modifier + noun’, rather than directly preceding a noun. In addition, this paper will explore cases where the definite article has been added incorrectly -Research questions: 1.Is the deletion rate of the English definite article, higher when preceding a modifier + noun, or when directly preceding a noun? 2. Is the rate of retention higher than that of deletion? 3. Where has the definite article been added incorrectly and what are the possible reasons for this? -Research Methods: Data was collected from ninety students enrolled in first grade of Science & Mathematics High School. Students were supposed to write on ‘Korean food’ and self-corrected several times via online before the submission. -Findings: The result of RQ 1 shows that the deletion rate is higher when the definite article precedes a modifier + noun – almost 50% higher than when the definite article directly precedes a noun. The result of RQ2 is that overall retention rate of sample group is 82.01% and overall deletion rate of sample group is 17.91%. The result of RQ3 is there were five cases where the definite article had been added unnecessarily and incorrectly.

1. Usage of the definite article
Represented from online self-correction:
In the context of Korean EFL
learners’ compositions
Chang-in Lee
(Pai Chai University)
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

2.  Introduction
 Literature
Outline
 Research Questions
 Research Methodology
 Findings & Implications
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3. Introduction
 Why Definite Articles?
• No impediment for communication and
unchallenged
• A wider variety of applications than its
counterpart, the indefinite article
• A greater complexity
 ETS Criterion Writing System
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4. Literature
 (Fowler & Aaron 1992: 748-788):
 ‘The’ is a definite article; it precedes a noun
when the thing named is already known to
the reader.
 Do not use ‘the’ with a plural noun or a mass
noun when the noun refers generally to all
representatives of what it names. Use ‘the’
when referring to one or more specific
representatives of what the noun names.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

5. Literature
 ‘English Article Deletion in Korean EFL
Learners’ Compositions’ (Hikyoung Lee,
1997).
• 49 freshmen in a South Korean university
• article deletion is systematic and sensitive to both
linguistic and social variables. Males deleted
articles more than females, but no apparent
difference resulted from regional background and
there was no difference in deletion rate for
definite and indefinite articles.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

6. Literature
 “The Effects of Discourse Types on the Use
of English Articles by Korean Learners of
English: Oral vs. Written Narratives”
(Juyeon Lee, 2013:33)
• To increase the awareness of the English
article system,
• Writing activities for beginning levels
• Speaking activities for proficient levels
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

7. Literature
 “Using Old English to Teach the Articles a
and the in the Classroom: An Etymological
and Visual Approach --Korean case” (Ken
Eckert 2012)
• Korean learners deletion of learning articles
can be helped by learning Old English
(Deletion of articles in Old English)
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8. Research Questions
 a) ‘the’ + modifier + noun
 b) ‘the’ + noun
• 1. Is the deletion rate of the English definite article
higher when preceding a modifier + noun, or when
directly preceding a noun?
• 2. Is the rate of retention higher than that of deletion?
• 3. Where has the definite article been added
incorrectly?
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

9. Research Methodology
 Participants: 90 students from 5 classes
 First grade students from Science High
School
 Online ETS Criterion on Korean Food
Class 1-1
18 students
Class 1-2
18 students
Class 1-3
18 students
Class 1-4
18 students
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference
Class 1-5
18 students
Total
90 students

10. 1118정석원
Deonjang is one of the jangs which have brown color. It is also called soybean paste in English. The origin of
deonjang is not certain, but we can guess it with the origin of beans, which are main constituent of deonjang.
There is a record that beans were raised in Manchuria around years ago. Through such a record, we may be able
to guess deonjang started in Manchuria. Also we can refer to an old literature-of History of Three States about
the fact that deongjang was made since Goguryeo days in the past Korea. I like deonjang because it is good for
our health. Deanjang was a main protein supplier for our ancestors, and it is said to have anti-cancer materials.
The best place to enjoy deonjang is your home. I have a special memory about deaonjang. When I was وyears
old, I went to a dining room alone. I asked deaonjang soup - thinking deonjang soup is deonjang jjigae.
Suddendly everyone in the dining room saw me with a puzzled look. I didn't know why until _ _ _ real
deaonjang soup was served. I was very ashamed.
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 1/2 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/5 cases.
Data collection and analysis
_ _ _ = definite article usage
_ _ _ = modifier
_ _ _ = noun
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

11. 1101 김희지
There are various kinds of traditional dishes in Korea, and we still enjoy many of them. Many of them are very healthy
and delicious, having its own special features, but I think the rice cake, so called tteok is _ _ _ most special food among
them. Rice cake is a popular korean snack which our ancestors made by steaming rice flour mixed with other
ingredients. Even though we are not sure about _ _ _ beginning of rice cakes, we know that our ancestors have eaten
those from _ _ _ Three Kingdom Period. Unfortunately, there is no specific information about _ _ _ origin of rice cake.
It is only told that when agrarian society first started, they cooked rice porridge and then started to make rice cake.
Since then, it became an important food along with other different kinds of traditional food such as Kimchi. Also, an
amazing fact is that there are more than 200 kinds of rice cake recipes according to reference books of _ _ _ Joseon
Dynasty Period. I really like rice cake because it makes me feel full and satisfied. Moreover, it is a meaningful food that
people can become intimate with neighbors by sharing rice cakes. _ _ _ best way to enjoy rice cake is to eat those at
once, or not, rice cake becomes soggy making it less delicious. More to _ _ _ point, if you share your rice cake with
neighbors, friends, and family, you can enjoy more tasty rice cake with your heart warmed.
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 2/2 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 5/5 cases, 1 case shows the unnecessary addition
of the definite article.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

12. 1202 이수영 (Lorraine)
Boochimgae is a Korean pancake which is a dough of flour and other ingredients griddled on
frying pan. It doesn’t have any special origin, but it is obvious that it has been enjoyed since
long time ago. Our ancestors griddled a dough on a big lid of a kettle and usually made it on
holidays. And the name, ‘Boochimgae’ is come from ‘griddle’ in Korean. Also, kings of joseon
liked boochimgae which is called ‘jeon-yoo-hwa’. Like this, boochimgae was popular food in
korea for a long time.
Especially, boochimgae has different names depending on what you put in. For example, if you
put kimchi on the dough, it is ‘kimchi bochimgae’. Or if you add seafood and a green oinion, it
is ‘haemool pajeon’. So, you can make it according to your taste. Also, many Koreans enjoy this
when the rain is falling. I don’t know _ _ exact reason, but maybe it has suitable taste with the
blue emotion of raining. The taste of it has perfect harmony of each ingredients, which make
me feel awesome.
If you want to eat more delicious boochimgae, you should follow my several tips. First one is
adding rice flour on the dough. In doing so, you can get more chewy one. Next, it is good when
you dip it in a sauce with soy sauce, vinegar, sesame seeds. Third one is going to ‘Donglae’
where the boochimgae is famous. There are many secret tips of making boochimgae for each
stores. The last one is as I told before, eating with the rain! I hope you to try to feel the
boochimgae leads you into the blue. The best harmony is eating boochimgae with ‘Makgeolli’! If
you are the legal drinking age, it’s okay to enjoy it.
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 1/3 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/6 cases, 1 case shows the unnecessary
addition of the definite article.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

13. 1218
One Korean food I want to introduce is Injeolmi. It is traditional Korean food which is a variety of tteok, or Korean rice cake, made
by steaming and pounding glutinous rice flour, which is shaped into small pieces and usually covered with steamed powdered
dried beans or other ingredients.
The origin of this food is that when the Lee Gual's rebel forces occupied Hanyang (capital city of Joseon) in 1624, King Injo
(Joseon's 16th king) fled to Gongju. And one day, Mr. Im's family served tteok to Injo. King said to his servants, "it is very delicous,
but does anyone know what is the name of this food?" But nobody knew the name of the food. He said again, "that's very strange.
Then, where is this food from?" And one said, "Mr. Im's family served it." Then, the king thought a while, and he said, "Mr. Im, Mr.
Im... That's a trully jeolmi(절미, 絶味, very delicious) That's a trully jeolmi. Therefore, this was when the food was called Imjeolmi,
and later 'Im' changed to 'In' to pronounce easier.
I love this food because this food is very glutinous, elastic, flexible, soft, sticky, gooey,
chewy. It is because the glutinous rice dough is pounded a lot with tteokmae (a rice cake mallet). And the soybean flour coating is
very flavory . Also, this food is small in size, so it is easy and clean to eat.
One special way to enjoy this food is to eat Injeolmi with Patbingsu (ice flakes with adzuki bean syrup). It makes very tasty flavor.
Also, you may dip Injeolmi into Jocheong (grain syrup). That makes really sweet taste. (268 words)
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/0 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/8 cases, 1 case
shows the unnecessary addition of the definite article.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

14. 1301
Naengmyeon is kind of a Korean traditional noodle. There are two kinds of
naengmyeon, mul naengmyeon and bibim naengmyeon. Mul naengmyeon is a food
with thin noodles, cucumbers, slices of pear, boiled egg, and beef all in cold broth.
Bibim naengmyeon is served as more of a noodle with salad in a spicy dressing made
from hot pepper paste. Naengmyeon was enjoyed since Chosun dynasty, written in
many books. Naengmyeon originated from _ _ _ Northern part of Korea, where people
grew lots of buckwheat because they couldn't grow lots of rice because of the cold
weather. So they made noodles with buckwheat or kudzu, and ate it in Winter. After the
Korean War, many people in the South ate it too.
I like naengmyeon, especially mul naengmyeon, because it's good to eat in Summer
since it's cold food. Also, noodle, egg, cucumber and other ingredients make good, tasty
harmony. To enjoy naengmyeon well, add mustard or hot pepper paste, and vinegar (in
the mul naengmyeon). Eating with sliced radish in hot Summer day or eating after
having barbeque is a good way, too! How about eating naengmyeon this Summer?
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in
1/2 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/2 cases.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

15. 1318
Dwenjang soup is one of the healthiest korean foods. Dwenjang made from fermented beans.
We didn't know _ _ certain origin of Dwenjang, however people guess it came from just
accident. Dwenjang soup has lots of advantage. It help_ people to losing weight because of the
bean. Despite its advantage, many foreigners hate this by reason of the smell. If so, why do I
love this dish? Because it has a real korean delicious taste.When I was young, I didn't like this.
But now, I love it. There are lots of way to enjoy it. you can use it just like soup, sauce, awaking
after drinking , ect. When you want to take this as soup, you can choose adding ingredient.
Dwenjang soup can accept ingredient whatever you want to use like anchobies, dried radish
greens. Then how can we enjoy it as sauce? First, boil out the soup. then, it will be like paste.
Finally, eat this with rice, lettuce. This seems like ssan(쌈) without meat, so some people
didn't love it. But it has a different attraction. If you ready to experience Dwenjang soup, you
are really know how to enjoy real Korean food!
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 1/2 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/3 cases.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

16. 1401
Have you ever heard about Jap-Chae, one of the Korea’s traditional food? It’s a delicious food made up of meat,
vegetables such as carrot, spinach and mushroom, and others . Jap-Chae was not something that went on to a usual
meal. It was to be eaten on special days. You might be wondering about where Jap-Chae came from and the person
who first made it. Let me tell you this: It was Lee Choong who first made Jap-Chae and put it on the menu of the royal
dish. At first, Jap-Chae didn’t include glass noodle, bcause it wasn’t made. However, not long ago, Jap-Chae gained
it’s popularity by adding noodle. Then, what’s so special about it that draws people? The answer? All of it! The
wonderful taste that anyone who pits Jap-Chae in their mouth will love and fall for it’s magic, the perfect harmony of
the color that looke very tasty, and, last of all, it has lots of vegetables that can keep you healthy . I’m sure if you taste
it, you’ll fall for it. If it doesn’t go along with your taste, here is a useful tip that could make you’re the taste of Jap-
Chae better: do not just stuff it in your mouth like any other noodles. I told you, when Jap-Chae was first made, it
didn’t have noodles. Let your sense of taste wonder around. Enjoy it! I’ll be wating for you to be a fan of Jap-Chae like
me.
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/2 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/6 cases,
1 case shows the unnecessary addition of the definite article.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

17. 1418 최덕규
Tteok-bokee is a traditional korean dish, which is made of a lot of ingredient_ such as cabbage, rice cake, deep
fried things, fish cake, and korean pepper paste. It originated from king's favorite snack. In chosun dynasty
kings liked it and they really enjoyed them. But that days tteok-bokee hadn't wasn’t cooked with korean
pepper paste, they were it was cooked with soy sauce. The reason why I like this dish is simple. They It tastes
really good! And the hot flavor makes me eat again. I think that's why other people like tteok-bokee, too. I
want to give you some advice on how to enjoy it. First, eat tteok-bokee with soondae. If you eat it with
soondae, you can feel soondae's chewy and tteok-bokee seasoning at once. Second, don't leave food. With
tteok-bokee seasoning everything in dish is delicious. Even _ _ _ cabbage tastes great. Third, if you want to
eat both ramen and tteok-bokee, don't eat them individually, just mix them! When you mix them, the name of
tteok-bokee turn inti ra-bokee. It is good to eat for lunch. Because it is easy to make and keep
suitable calories. Last, choose the size of the rice cake. Some people like bigger one to taste longer and the
others like smaller one to eat at a in one mouthful. I guess you are fully ready to enjoy it now!
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/1 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 1/5 cases,
1 case shows the unnecessary addition of the definite article.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

18. 1501
Tteokbokki is a special Korean food, which is a rice cake in hot sauce.
Tteokbokki was originally served to the kings in the royal court so it was
regarded as a special dish for only _ _ high class. Tteokbokki was a highly
nutritious meal because it was made of various ingredients to provide a well-balanced
meal. After the Korean War, some stores in Seoul started to sell
spicy tteokbokki seasoned with chili red pepper paste and it became a
popular food in Korea. Nowadays, people usually eat "Gungjung tteokbokki",
which is the update_ version of today’s hot tteokbokki. The reason I love
Tteokbokki is that I like _ _ _ very hot taste and it is also easy to make. Here
are two tips on how to enjoy this food. First, add some cheese and ramen.
Cheese will make Tteokbokki more soft, s_ _ _ _ _ and more delicious.
Second, eat with fried food, gimbap and sundae. These three foods are
combination of pojangmacha, so _ _ _ harmony will be great.
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred
in 1/2 cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 1/5 cases.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

19. 1518
Have you ever heard of galbitang? Galbitang is a Korean soup made from
beef rib, which is called galbi, and other ingredients. There is no particular
origin of galbitang, but there are some historical records about galbitang.
We can find galbitang in the records on table setting_ for Korean royal court
banquets held in the 1880s. The reason I love galbitang is that its soup is
very delicious. It is clear and tasty. When I eat galbitang, I feel like being
refreshed. Galbitang alone is delicious, but if you want to eat more delicious
galbitang, what about trying some the following tips? First, put rice in
galbitang, and eat the soup with rice. Many Koreans eat soup with rice. In
my opinion, eating rice and soup together is more delicious than eating them
separately. Second, eat it with a piece of kimchi. Hot galbitang with cold,
spicy kimchi makes a great combination. Lastly, when you eat galbi, dip the
meat into the soy sauce. It is better eating meat with some seasoning than
just eating meat alone. I think you are ready to enjoy galbitang. Now, go
outside, and enjoy delicious galbitang!
(i) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (modifier) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 0/1
cases.
(ii) _ _ _ (the) + _ _ _ (noun) = Deletion occurred in 1/5 cases.
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20. Findings
• RQ 1. Is the deletion rate of the English
definite article, higher when preceding a
modifier + noun, or when directly
preceding a noun?
• (the) + modifier + noun: deletion rate
23.53%
• (the) + noun: deletion rate 16.00%
The results show that the deletion rate is higher when the definite article
precedes a modifier + noun – almost 50% higher than when the definite
article directly precedes a noun.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

21. Findings
 RQ2. Is the rate of retention higher than that
of deletion?
• Overall retention rate of sample group:82.01%
• Overall deletion rate of sample group:17.91%
• Average (mean) retention rate:81.31:
• Average (mean) deletion rate:18.69%
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

22. Findings
 RQ3. . Where has the definite article been
added incorrectly?
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23. (i) There are various kinds of traditional dishes in Korea, and we still enjoy many of them. Many of them are
very healthy and delicious, having its own special features, but I think the rice cake, so called tteok is _ _ _
most special food among them.
(ii) There are many secret tips of making boochimgae for each stores. The last one is as I told before, eating
with the rain! I hope you to try to feel the boochimgae leads you into the blue.
(iii) Have you ever heard about Jap-Chae, one of the Korea’s traditional food?
(iv) The origin of this food is that when the Lee Gual's rebel forces occupied Hanyang (capital city of Joseon) in
1624, King Injo (Joseon's 16th king) fled to Gongju.
In (i), (ii) and (iii) the nouns; ‘rice cake’, ‘boochimgae’ and ‘others’ refer to the general case as in all rice cakes,
all boochimgae and all other people but the writers have not foreseen this and have altered the interpretation
of the text by specifying a particular type of each.
In (iv), the nouns take the possessive form and additionally, do not need the definite article for only one of
each exists in this world. This is a well-known grammar rule associated with the usage of the definite article
and students may have not yet mastered it.
It should also be noted that in all of the above cases, the definite article has been incorrectly added directly
before a noun.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference

24. Pedagogical Implications &
Limitations
 This study has shown that students delete the
definite article more often when it precedes a
modifier + noun, as opposed to just a noun.
 Further research is needed to explore the
reasons why students incorrectly add a
definite article, in particular, when the
definite article precedes only a noun.
 Further research is needed with off line data
for deletion and extend the levels of the
participants.
2014-09-20 KAMALL Conference