Developing Materials for Children's English Bible Study in Korea

Abstract

Children's English worship service has emerged as a trend in Korea with dual benefits: learning both English and the Bible at the same time. As the trend grows, so do the needs of the various professionals of the field; however it is still difficult to find materials meeting those needs. This study, therefore, aims to develop teaching materials for Korean children's English Bible study which would help learners develop not only English skills but also biblical knowledge. The project began with a needs analysis through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews from the learners who experienced English worship services. The results of the needs analysis showed that the children had more interest in learning the content of the Bible itself than the English language, and that they wanted deeper understanding of the various adventures portrayed in the Bible. Teaching techniques such as process drama conventions and personalizing tasks have been used in the proposed materials to encourage Korean children to learn about the Bible and to communicate in English in meaningful contexts. The study demonstrates the whole process of developing materials from conducting a needs analysis to designing a sample chapter.