• Korean Journal of Comparative Education
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.71-95
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• 2014

This is a pilot study of multifaceted longitudinal research project to explore educational experiences of students with multicultural family backgrounds in Korea. Especially for this pilot study, I selected three foreign-born immigrant youths and tried to explore how these youths describe constraints of their learning experience in different culture. The data for this study were mainly collected through qualitative research methods. For a better understanding of the research participants' perceptions in this study, narrative inquiry and series of semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted for a period of four months which corresponds to one semester of school system in Korea. As a result, this study found that there is an urgent need to establish a systemic and developmentaly appropriate language education programs that ensure educating the language to the foreign-born immigrant youths because their academic achievement, interpersonal relationships, and future depend greatly on the fluency of Korean language. It was also found that it is necessary to take appropriate educational actions in supporting alternative schools where the foreign-born immigrant youths can fully and seriously considered as a whole person. Although this study has some limitations in examining every single aspect of the current state of education of students with multicultural backgrounds in Korea, it provides deep insight into some of their initial educational experiences and proposes several ways to improve these educational programs for them.

• Korean Educational Research Journal
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.89-123
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• 2022

This research aimed to explore the nature of teachers' experiences of multicultural education in primary schools with ethnic diversity in the Republic of Korea and draw policy implications. For this study, the researchers interviewed 15 primary school teachers using semi-structured questionnaires in mine different schools. The participating teachers were in charge of the multicultural education in schools with ethnic diversity in two rural counties in the Republic of Korea. The analysis of the empirical data suggests that teachers stationed in ethnic diversity have not been trained for the diverse population nor multicultural education in general. In addition, they were struggling with the lack of teaching resources including textbooks for multicultural education, support for students and their parents in need of learning Korean as a foreign language, accurate data of those students etc. These teacher policy implications are suggested while discussing the findings; such as the importance of practical in-service training opportunities, quality teaching resources, Korean as Second Language(KSL) experts, and accurate data of students with ethnic diversity.

• Journal of Music and Human Behavior
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.21-41
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• 2022

The purpose of this research was to develop and verify applicability of a musical play program aimed at promoting interaction between immigrant preschoolers and Korean preschoolers. A daycare center serving the preschool-age children of Korean nationals and immigrant families were the site for this research. Utilizing the elements of a musical play (e.g., role playing, narration, and joint music activity), the program was developed for improving interaction among preschoolers, while promoting intercultural acceptance by providing the opportunity to be exposed to music from different cultures and engage in the joint activity using such music. For the purpose of investigate the applicability of the developed program, the program was implemented with two groups of preschoolers and each group received the musical play program for 30 minutes twice a week for a total of 6 sessions. The results of this preliminary study indicate that the musical play program promoted interaction between peers from different cultural background. Based on the results of this study, musical play programs may be helpful in promoting interactions between preschoolers from different cultural backgrounds and increase of acceptance of immigrant students in Korean daycares and schools.

• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.253-276
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• 2014

The diversification of Korean society with a large influx of migrant workers, international marriages, and international students calls for an attention to the importance of cultural competence of Library and Information Science sector in order to respond effectively and appropriately to the needs of immigrants who have diverse cultural backgrounds. In regard to these circumstances, this study is designed to develop the components of cultural competency needed by librarians. For this, this study collected its data through literatures review and interviews with librarians who are implementing services for immigrants in multicultural libraries and with experts who have experienced researches based multicultural services or involved with the management of multicultural families and migrant workers. As a result, the cultural competency components emerging from literatures review and interviews were divided into three parts ; multicultural attitude, multicultural knowledge and multicultural skills. And detailed components of three parts of cultural competency were specifically multicultural attitude, knowledge of multicultural groups, knowledge of multicultural services, development of collections, programs, and services, service delivery, language diversity, and professional education and workforce diversity.