Increasing numbers of Korean sojourner families are moving to an English-speaking country on a short-term basis in the hope of improving educational and linguistic outcomes for their children. This study reports the findings of an ethnographic case study of 10 families in southern England. The motivation for the move to the UK is explored, paying particular attention to the influence of parents' dissatisfaction with the education system in Korea and the role of English as an international language. Interviews and focus group discussions with parents, children and their teachers as well as classroom observation are used to highlight the disjunction between the expectations and the actual experiences of Korean sojourners. Key areas of dissonance were found to include classroom behaviour and skills and strategies for learning. Such information is critical for both families--ideally before they make the move to the new country--and teachers in the receiving countries. There are also clear implications for policymakers in Korea. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)