The Effects of Pictorial Typography for Developing Korean Child ESL Learners’ Pre-Literacy Skills

Based on dual coding theory, this study predicted that pictorial typography (PT), a device involving direct visual integration of a written word into a picture of its referent, is more effective for ESL children’s pre-literacy skills, than the non-integrated paring of word and picture on flashcards (FC). The two types of instruction were given to thirty-two Korean children aged six and seven, both embedded within the WordWorld (WW) episodes, an animated TV series developed by PBS. Results from the preand post-test design were as follows. PT was more beneficial than FC for the two upperlevel skills, vocabulary and reading fluency, while they were equally beneficial for the two lower-level skills, letter recognition and phonemic awareness. The two mediating variables, gender and age, were shown to have partial effects as well. Dual coding theory and the importance of instructional intervention have been supported by this study.