Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society (한국산학기술학회논문지)

The Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society (한국산학기술학회)
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Cultural Awareness of Native English Teachers Who Work at Regular Kindergartens in Korea

한국 유치원에서 근무하는 원어민 영어교사의 문화 인식

  • Yun, Young Soon (Department of Early Chilhood Education, Gwangju National University of Education) ;
  • Kim, Kyu-Soo (Department of Early Chilhood Education, Wonkwang University)
  • 윤영순 (광주교육대학교 유아교육과) ;
  • 김규수 (원광대학교 유아교육과)
  • Received : 2014.04.24
  • Accepted : 2014.06.12
  • Published : 2014.06.30
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Abstract

Korean National Level Kindergarten Curriculum does not include English education in regular class time. On the other hand, more than 90% kindergarteners are taught English. This study examined the Native English Teachers' (NETs') cultural aspects of their teaching at regular kindergartens in Korea. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with four NETs who were working at regular kindergartens in Korea, their partner Local English Teachers (LETs) and kindergarten principals. All interview data was transcribed and categorized based on the grounded theory method. The results showed that NETs are not required to be culturally prepared to teach in Korean kindergartens. Consequently, most of them do not consider the students' culture in their teaching activities. Moreover, Korean kindergartens, where research participants work, are not prepared well to invite NETs into their regular curriculum. These results will have significant implications on Korean kindergarten's English education practice.

국가 수준의 교육과정인 누리과정에서는 유아를 대상으로 한 영어교육을 고려하지 않고 있다. 그러나 현실에서는 90%이상의 유아들이 영어를 배우고 있다. 이 연구는 한국의 정규 유치원에서 영어를 가르치는 원어민 영어교사의 교수활동의 문화적 측면을 분석하였다. 이 연구를 위한 자료는 정규 유치원의 원어민 영어교사, 한국인 영어교사와 유치원 원장의 인터뷰를 통해 수집되었다. 모든 인터뷰 자료들은 근거 이론에 기반하여 전사하고 분류되었다. 연구 결과, 한국의 정규유치원에서는 원어민 영어교사들에게 한국의 유아들을 위한 문화적인 준비를 요구하지 않았다. 따라서, 대부분의 원어민 영어교사들은 자신의 교육활동에서 유아들의 문화를 고려하지 않고 있었다. 또한, 이 연구에 참여한 원어민 영어교사들이 근무하고 있는 한국 유치원들 역시 원어민 영어교사들의 교수활동을 정규 교육과정에 잘 통합하고 있지 못했다. 이러한 연구 결과들은 국 유치원의 영어교육에 중요한 시사점을 제공할 것이다.

Keywords

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