ERIC Number: EJ1043852
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014-Oct
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1527-9316
EISSN: N/A
Challenging, Eye-Opening, and Changing U.S. Teacher Training in Korea: Creating Experiences That Will Enhance Global Perspectives
Oh, Kevin; Nussli, Natalie
Journal of the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, v14 n4 p67-87 Oct 2014
This case study explored the short-term international experience of pre-service teachers to create and enhance global perspectives. These teachers (n = 5), all female graduate students at a university in the U.S., were fully immersed in a foreign culture for three weeks while teaching English to primary and secondary students in Korea. Pre-, during-, and post-data were collected to investigate how the participants work and live while being completely immersed in a new culture. Eight themes emerged from the analysis of multiple qualitative instruments: (a) language barrier, (b) being the minority, (c) cultural differences and cultural shock, (d) student participation and teaching methods, (e) classroom management, (f) underestimation of English language learners, (g) finding confidence as a teacher and instructional flexibility, and (h) support systems. Overall, teachers expressed a transformation in both their teaching philosophy and cultural perspectives despite the short duration of the experience. They also reported that this linguistic and cultural immersion not only advanced their global perspective but also provided them with the necessary tools and understanding to work with diverse populations more emphatically and effectively. The findings suggest that additional teacher training is needed to increase pre-service teachers' cultural competence and responsiveness to better address the needs of today's diverse student populations.
Descriptors: Teacher Education, Foreign Countries, Case Studies, Preservice Teacher Education, Graduate Students, Females, Teaching Experience, Cultural Awareness, Asian Culture, Cultural Differences, Minority Groups, Culture Conflict, English (Second Language), Second Language Learning, Barriers, Korean, Student Diversity, Consciousness Raising, Phenomenology, Qualitative Research
Indiana University. 755 West Michigan Street UL 1180D, Indianapolis, IN 46202. Tel: 317-274-5647; Fax: 317-278-2360; e-mail: josotl@iupui.edu; Web site: http://www.iupui.edu/~josotl
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research; Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: South Korea
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A