• Journal of Korean language education
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.25-48
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• 2018

The aim of this study was to analyze research trends in the fields of Korean Language and Literature, Korean Language Education, and Korean Language Education as a Foreign Language. To this end, key words were extracted from 29,470 academic theses published between 2000 and 2017. The results of the analysis are as follows. First, in the field of Korean Language and Literature, there is greater quantity in studies about Korean language than about literature, and starting from 2010, there was an increase in studies similar to those from the field of Korean Language Education as a Foreign Language. Next, in comparison to the other fields, the field of Korean Language Education has greater variance in its research theme-in particular, numerous studies related to the site of education. Finally, the field of Korean Language Education has the following trends: a) there are copious studies focused on Korean language learners in comparison to other fields, b) there are a greater number of studies focused on culture, and c) the key words change by time period which suggest that research demands transformed over time. Overall, a total of 64 highest frequency key words from the three academic fields were investigated. Of these, 22 were common key words and 42 were differential key words. In this way, it was possible to illuminate the identity of each field.

• International Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.87-102
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between acculturation and the daily adjustment of Korean-Chinese children to Chinese society. Specifically, this study examined the differences between language factors and cultural factors in the levels of acculturation of Korean-Chinese children. In addition, the differences of Korean-Chinese children's adjustment according to their levels of language-related and culture-related acculturation were analyzed. Subjects consisted of 679 Korean-Chinese 4th graders in Yangil, Shenyang, and Harbin. First, the result from this study showed that Korean-Chinese children in Yangil, Shenyang, and Harbin were more acculturated to the Chinese language than to Chinese cultural activities. Second, language factors and cultural factors in acculturation were distinctively associated with Korean children's daily adjustment variables such as their well-being, internal locus of control, achievement motivation, school adjustment, teacher and peer support. Lastly, this study revealed that using Korean ethnic language and maintaining Korean ethnic culture are more likely to be associated with better daily adjustment for Korean-Chinese children. These results discussed within the unique sociocultural context of the Korean-Chinese immigrant society. This study suggests that ethnic minority children's adjustment and development should be understood within the sociocultural context of their immigrant society.

• Korean Journal of Human Ecology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.93-112
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• 2009

The purpose of this study is to identify stresses and adjustment elements of Chinese students in Korea. The data analysis was conducted by qualitative method based on interviews with sixteen Chinese students as a focus group by the help of two interpreters. The results were as follows: first, stresses of Chinese students were from 'cultural difference', 'language', and 'financial', 'educational' and 'psychological stress', and 'university culture in Korea'. Those categories were divided into several sub categories. Second, ten helpful elements Chinese students could adapt themselves to Korean university life were such as 'Help of Korean professor and friends', 'Chinese friends' help', 'English-oriented lecture', 'Cultural affinity to Korea', 'Fluency in Korean language', 'Integration to Korean culture', 'Pride in Chinese culture', 'Individual effort', 'Satisfaction with educational environment', 'Perception of self-growth'.

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.20
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• pp.29-66
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• 2010

This paper is a qualitative study of the experiences of Korean heritage language learners (KHLLs) with literacy (reading and writing), particularly before they enter the college-level heritage language classroom. Previous research, both qualitative and quantitative, has addressed the overall language background of KHLLs, including oral and aural proficiency and writing and reading ability, as well as demographic information (such as when the student immigrated to the United States) in relation to language test scores. This study addresses KHLL experiences in the following six areas as they relate to student perceptions and attitudes toward their own heritage language literacy: language proficiency, motivation for learning, academic preparedness, cultural connectedness, emotional factors, and social factors. Fourteen undergraduate students at a university in the western United States participated in a convenience sample by responding to a 10-question survey. Trends in responses indicated that KHLLs entered the classroom with high integrational motivation and experienced great satisfaction with perceived progress in literacy, but students also expressed regret for having missed childhood learning experiences that would likely have resulted in higher proficiency. These experiences include informal and formal instruction in the home and formal instruction outside of the home.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.109-115
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• 2020

We aimed to understand how English textbooks in Korea reflect English education policies for improving the English language learners' cultural ability. In order to achieve the purpose of this study, we used the method of analyzing English textbooks because English textbooks are an important tool that most specifically reflects the English policy of a country. This study analyzed middle school English textbooks currently used in Korea. We analyzed nouns/pronouns related to cultures presented in the reading section included in each unit, and compared cultural diversity and cultural identity included in English textbooks in Korea. As a result, it was found that Korea tried to introduce the diverse cultures from the world and promote Korean traditional cultures into the world. So the cultural policy of English education in Korea can be evaluated to be appropriate for cultivating Korea young learners with the cultural capabilities which are essential to be successful leaders in the globalized world.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.5
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• pp.496-504
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• 2012

The purpose of this study is to guide efficient ways to teach cultural aspects in Korean elementary English education through analyzing many studies on elementary English culture education. In global era, English education must be performed based on understanding of other various cultures for authentic communication. However, Korean elementary students have difficulty to approach or to be exposed to the culture of English speaking countries. Elementary English culture education is neither well organized nor performed for some reasons. The reasons are as follows. Frist, English teachers are not confident with the culture and they consider themselves not having enough experiences and knowledge to teach. They were not taught cultural aspects and the cultural aspects were not emphasized. Second, there are not appropriate culture related teaching materials in the textbooks and teachers' guide books. Therefore, necessary cultural aspects should be selected by English education experts and provided in the textbooks and teachers' guide books. Those two books should be systematically connected. Elementary English teachers should have more opportunities to understand and experience other various cultures. Language is a part of culture and culture is a part of language. Acquiring the second language is acquiring its culture. The culture education for authentic communication is accomplished from managing cultural aspects in textbooks and cultivating English teachers with experience and understanding of target culture.

• CELLMED
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• v.13 no.10
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• pp.9.1-9.6
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• 2023

This study aims to explore the potential of Korean language learning as a means of psychological healing and improving the quality of life for Japanese middle-aged and older learners. Results showed that Korean language learning could help alleviate various psychological issues experienced by middle-aged learners and contribute to enhancing their quality of life. Learning a foreign language is not just about acquiring information but also about meeting people who use the language and understanding and experiencing their culture. In particular, for Japanese middle-aged learners, Korean language learning can be advantageous as it can lead to the discovery or development of new hobbies or interests. Results also showed that Korean language learning increased learners' opportunities for interaction with others and enjoyment of learning new cultural customs. These positive outcomes suggest the need for discussion of teaching strategies that focus on psychological healing in foreign language education. Further clinical trials with participants who learn foreign languages for healing purposes may provide more conclusive evidence on the diverse effects of language learning on stress, anxiety, depression, self-development, social connections, and cognitive ability.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-49
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• 2018

Public Diplomacy (PD) is the third pillar of South Korean foreign policy. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PD aims to attract foreign audiences by means of art, knowledge transmission, media, language and foreign aid. When it comes to the Korean language, its global profile has seen an especially marked increase in recent years (Kim, 2009). Thus, this paper's objective is to explain the relevance of the Korean language in the generation of South Korea's soft power. I draw from $C{\acute{e}}sar$ Villanueva's reflections in order to problematize how language promotion can be translated into soft power at five different levels: the empathetic, the sympathetic, the geopolitical, the diplomatic and the utilitarian. I observe that in the case of the Korean language in Mexico City, soft power has the potential to be generated on three levels: it helps to increase knowledge of Korean culture (empathetic); it exercises symbolic persuasion (geopolitical), since the products of cultural industries are mostly in Korean; and it is used as a tool for economic transactions in Mexico City (utilitarian).

• Cross-Cultural Studies
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• v.24
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• pp.170-183
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• 2011

This study explored how a Chinese college student who previously had not reached a threshold level of Korean proficiency used L1 (Chinese) and L2 (English) as a tool to socialize into Korean (L3) culture of learning over the course of study. From a perspective of language socialization, this study examined the cross-linguistic influence of L1 and L2 on the L3 acquisition process by tracing an approach to language learning and practices taken by the Chinese student as a case study. Data were collected through three methods; interview protocols, various types of written texts, and observations. The results showed that the student used English as a means to negotiate difficulties and expertise by empowering her L2 exposure during the classroom practices. Her ways of using L2 in oral practices could be characterized as the 'Inverse U-shape' pattern, under which she increased L2 exposure at the early stage of the study and shifted the intermediate language to L3 at the later stage of the study. When it comes to the language use in written practices, the sequence of "L2-L1-L3" use gradually changed to the "L2-L3" sequence over time, signifying the importance of interaction between L2 and L3. However, the use of her native language (L1) in a Korean-speaking classroom was limited to a certain aspect of literacy practices (i.e., vocabulary learning or translation). This study argues for L2 communication channel in cross-cultural classrooms as a key factor to determine sustainable learning growth.

• English Language & Literature Teaching
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.1-29
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• 2006

The purpose of this paper is to present a qualitative case study on teaching English as an international language in Korean context. The researcher investigated the implementation process of the new elementary English program from the government to local schools to find out to what extent the symbolic value of English as an international language affect the implementation process of the elementary English program. The research result showed that the elementary teachers shared the different views of the status of English from those of government and the parents, and their differing perception of the role of English constantly affected their implementation efforts. The research findings also revealed that the public's concern of English dominance in Korean educational system resulted in the government's 'comprised curriculum' by lowering the learning goals of the English program. The findings also indicated that the introduction of the elementary English program accelerated English dominance in both teacher and student culture. The question of how to resolve the conflict between acquiring English proficiency and its negative influence on Korean culture remains a complex issue in implementing the new elementary English program.