As English has come to be used more extensively in various areas
of professional and social life, there is a growing perception that
people’s ability to communicate in English is closely related to
both individual and national economic success.In this context, however,
it is necessary for the authorities in charge of educational policies
to base their decisions on the actual conditions under which students
are learning the second language.
Specifically, the study investigates
the attainment goals which the Action Plan has established for junior
and senior high school students, and identifies problems in those goals
on the basis of up-to-date research findings on L2 learning. By exploring
more effective ways of defining learning objectives, the study also
makes some suggestions for future research and policy making.