• Korea journal of population studies
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.63-95
• /
• 2005

In the era of globalization, a significant number of young students go abroad to learn English. By reviewing the trends and characteristics of this phenomenon, this study will focus on the adjustment of young Korean students in Australia. During June and July 2002, two questionnaire surveys were conducted for year 7 to year 12 Korean students at the Saturday Schools in Sydney Australia and for the youth group at the Sydney Catholic Church. More data was collected from interviews with 31 Korean teachers at the Saturday Schools and Linfield Korean school, as well as observations of the students in the Sydney area. The study divided the students into four groups: 1) Korean immigrant students, whose parents immigrated to Australia; 2) Individual Korean students who went alone to Australia to study; 3) Students whom live in Australia with one parent (usually their mother), whilst the other parent (usually their father) who provides financial support by working in Korea; and 4) students who accompanied their parents whom were dispatched for temporary employment or study in Australia. Moreover the study focused on the following; their academic performance, school activities, motivation, social relations, and their overall satisfaction with their studies and their stay in Australia. The findings indicated that the temporary overseas Korean students, especially those that are not with their parents do not adjust as well as the Korean immigrant students. The students who were not accompanied by their parents to Australia had the most difficulties adjusting as they were more vulnerable and fell behind with their studies. Therefore, the results support the concerns of Korean teachers in Australia about parents sending young students alone abroad.

• Proceedings of KHEA Conference
• /
• 2007.06a
• /
• pp.81-81
• /
• 2007

• Korean Journal of Comparative Education
• /
• v.24 no.3
• /
• pp.199-226
• /
• 2014

The aim of this study was to determine key experiences of homestay guardians of unaccompanied minor Korean adolescents studying abroad in the United States through qualitative research method of grounded theory methodology. This study identified guardianship experiences and the process of adjustment to life with homestay students through in-depth interviews with 12 subjects who are Korean guardians in the United States. The results of this study classified "started with concern" as a category that leads guardians to start providing homestay accommodation, and "other's recommendation," "need for financial support," and "unexpectedly" as subcategories. This study identified "act as a mediator to resolve differences" as a key experience of guardians, and classified subcategories are "parental role" and "calculation of gains and losses" on a personal level; and "feel sorry for own children," "limited leeway of the family," and "formation of relationship between own children and homestay students" on a family level. Developed subcategories are "thirsty for attention," "vulnerability," "task on freedom and control," and "regrettable feeling in the absence of communication" with respect to relationship with students; "grade expectations," "one-way communication," "trapped between parents' and students' demands" in regard to relationship with parents; and "advice from school" in the aspect of school. "Cultural difference," "preparedness of students and parents," "age differences between guardian's children and students," "family support," "similar personalities," "guardian's motivation," and "parent's attitude" are subcategories that affect central phenomenon of guardians.

• Korean Journal of Child Studies
• /
• v.30 no.6
• /
• pp.297-308
• /
• 2009

The study abroad phenomenon at an early age in Korea is increasing steadily. Increasing social demand for global leaders, disappointment in Korean educational system and economic growth are motivating more students to study abroad. The study abroad is a social phenomenon that is widespread across all social status in Korea. This study tries to examine the phenomenon in respect to social, psychological, educational and economical perspectives and seek future research questions. The findings suggest ways to improve Korean educational system, support students currently or planning to study abroad and to re-adjust in Korea after they come back. A balanced perspective is necessary in viewing study abroad phenomenon, rather than preventing, implementing stronger pulling factors in Korean educational system. It is necessary to hold the study abroad as another educational opportunity.

• The Southeast Asian review
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.207-251
• /
• 2014

This study explores the mobility patterns of Korean Early Study Aborad (ESA, hereafter) students in Singapore through a follow-up longitudinal case study, which was initially conducted about five years before this study. This study takes up transnational migration approach, focusing on family strategies and mobilization, which steered their mobility. Interviews with seven original families as well as 7 families additionally recruited in Singapore in 2012 were collected and analyzed by NVivo 9. In short, this study found that transnational mobility is composed of mobilities at global, regional and local levels. There were four types of mobilities; continuation of stay in Singapore, move from a third county to Singapore, return to Korea, and, what this research calls, fluid mobility. Examining the process of these mobilities shows that we need to consider at least three factors (performance of children's schooling; change of family circumstances; context of reception for both Singapore and Korea) as basic backgrounds. On this basis, the interplay between the context of receptions when aspirations for children's advancement by these transnational families made either facilitate or constrain their mobilities: contexts of Singapore and Korea may play a role of hurdle or trampoline. Also, local context of Singapore largely facilitate mobilities of Korean ESA families at both local and global levels.

• The Southeast Asian review
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.1-48
• /
• 2011

This study examines the perception and its meaning of child education and mother]s role for children of Korean mothers for their children to study abroad in Malaysia. For this purpose, data was collected through in-depth interviews with seven mothers and one grandmother. All participants were lived in Malaysia for at least 6 months above. As a result, the most of recommenders of studying in Malaysia were fathers. And the purposes of studying in Malaysia were the improvement of their children's English learning skills and abilities, and not-good academic achievement in Korea. They made a decision for their children to study in Malaysia in that it was good to study in Malaysia for early 'spec' management for their children. But in the case of Korean mothers, they had a diverse desires internally. For example, they had a desire to escape from the relationships with mother-in law or complicated social relations of their family, kin, and neighbors in Korea. In Malaysia, Koran mothers carried out their roles of children's time management, information network management and 'distinction' strategies to their friends and neighbors for their children to study well and up their achievements' levels. Lately, they had planning to develop for their children's long term life design and their choices of universities in Korea, with special reference to the various connections of school-ties and religion-ties in Malaysia.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.365-377
• /
• 2010

This study examined the changes in sleeping and studying patterns of young students and their mothers after moving to foreign countries. This study analyzed the relational characteristics of Geese Family members which are summarized as follows: 1) Sleeping Pattern: At the early stages of settling into foreign countries, students begin to sleep in the same bedroom with their mothers, who had used to sleep in separate bedrooms back in Korea. This change in pattern may slightly vary according to the age and gender of the students, and type of residence. Relationships between young students and mothers become more tightly coupled. However, relationships between students and fathers become less tightened. 2) Studying Pattern: Students tend to study in the public space such as the living room and dining areas, rather than in their own private rooms. This is because mothers want to support and focus upon their children's study by sacrificing normal family activities. These patterns appear stronger as their period of study in the foreign country becomes shorter and the ages of the students become younger. These studying patterns also contribute to the coupling between mothers and young students. 3) Family Relationships: From the period as Geese Families, the relation between mothers and young students become closer both physically and emotionally. The relation between fathers and children become less close. The role of fathers is degraded to that of supporter or negotiator for the time period of the mothers and child students in the foreign country.