In the past decade, the historically homogeneous South Korean society has seen an increase in immigration. While the majority of immigrants still come from other Asian countries, the immigration of Anglophone immigrants is especially remarkable. Most of them are working as English teachers in public and private Korean education institution. The essay at hand traces the motivations of these immigrants and the role of the government by means of literature research. Furthermore, a short survey has been conducted to try to answer the question how well these Western immigrants are integrated in the Korean. Even though South Korea is slowly transforming into a multicultural society, integration still an issue that the government did not yet address thoroughly.
Table of Contents
1. The Korean English Teacher Phenomenon: Immigration and Integration of Anglophone Immigrants in Modern South Korea
1.1 History of English Language Education in South Korea and the Role of the Government
1.2 The Stance of the Government: Korea - a Country of Immigration?
1.3 General Integration Situation and Perception of Immigrants in South Korea
1.4 Integration of Western Anglophone Immigrants
1.4.1 Method
1.4.2 Results
1.4.3 Discussion
2. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the rise of Western Anglophone immigration to South Korea, specifically focusing on the motivations of English language teachers and their levels of integration within a historically homogeneous society. The research explores how government-led education policies have driven this migration flow and assesses the socio-cultural challenges these immigrants face in a society undergoing a transition toward multiculturalism.
- The history and impact of "English fever" on national education policy.
- Government initiatives such as EPIK and TaLK for recruiting native speakers.
- Push and pull factors influencing the decision to migrate to South Korea.
- Analysis of immigrant integration, cultural barriers, and societal perceptions.
- The dichotomy between government assimilation goals and the reality of the immigrant experience.
Excerpt from the Book
Integration of Western Anglophone Immigrants
Because Western immigration to Korea is a very recent phenomenon and at least compared to the immigration of Asian workers rather small, not much academic research is available on this topic. For this reason, a short online questionnaire has been prepared. The aim of the questionnaire is to give an indication on which reasons the Korean English teacher phenomenon could be based and how these Western Anglophone immigrants experience their integration in Korean society.
Method
The survey was made on surveymonkey.com on April 19, 2013 and then send to English teachers in Korea who were asked to share the survey with other English teachers in Korea they knew (self-selection sample, snowball sampling). Furthermore, the survey was shared on social media like relevant facebook.com groups and pages (page of the EPIK programme and TaLK group) and on the South Korea group of couchsurfing.com. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions (appendix); 7 of them were open questions which focused mainly on how these English teachers perceive Korea and their integration but for example also why they chose Korea. After 10 days 28 people filled out the anonymous questionnaire.
Summary of Chapters
1. The Korean English Teacher Phenomenon: Immigration and Integration of Anglophone Immigrants in Modern South Korea: This chapter provides an introductory overview of the increase in Anglophone immigration to South Korea, contextualizing it within the country's economic growth and the societal pressure for English education.
1.1 History of English Language Education in South Korea and the Role of the Government: This section details the emergence of "English fever" and the implementation of government programs like EPIK and TaLK to recruit native speakers to enhance national competitiveness.
1.2 The Stance of the Government: Korea - a Country of Immigration?: This chapter analyzes how South Korea is transitioning toward a multicultural society, discussing the government's approach to managing both low-skilled migrant workers and highly-skilled professionals.
1.3 General Integration Situation and Perception of Immigrants in South Korea: This part examines the deep-rooted ideal of a mono-cultural and mono-racial society and how this ideology influences the treatment and integration of foreigners in daily life.
1.4 Integration of Western Anglophone Immigrants: This chapter presents the empirical data gathered via an online survey, focusing on the motivations, integration experiences, and perceptions of English teachers in Korea.
2. Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the research findings, highlighting that while government policies have successfully encouraged migration, deeper issues regarding long-term societal integration remain largely unaddressed.
Keywords
South Korea, Immigration, English Language Teaching, Integration, EPIK, Multiculturalism, Assimilation, Anglophone Immigrants, English Fever, Education Policy, Migration Theory, Cultural Barriers, Xenophobia, Language Acquisition, Expatriates
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research paper?
The paper investigates the phenomenon of Western Anglophone immigration to South Korea, focusing on individuals who migrate to the country primarily to work as English teachers.
What are the primary thematic fields covered in this study?
The main themes include the history of South Korean English education policy, the role of government recruitment programs, migration motivation theories, and the socio-cultural integration of immigrants.
What is the primary research goal of this work?
The research aims to determine the factors driving the recent flow of Western immigrants to South Korea and to assess the extent to which these immigrants are integrated into the host society.
Which scientific methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a combination of literature research and an exploratory qualitative study, involving an online survey distributed to 28 English teachers in South Korea to gather first-hand experiences.
What key aspects are discussed in the main body of the paper?
The main body covers the development of English education programs, the Korean government's approach to immigration policy, the challenges of social integration in a homogeneous culture, and an analysis of the survey results regarding immigrant motivations and satisfaction.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include South Korea, Immigration, English Language Teaching, Integration, EPIK, Multiculturalism, and English Fever.
How does the government's "passive multicultural" stance affect immigrant integration?
The author argues that while the government provides support programs for language and cultural adaptation, these measures prioritize assimilation over true acceptance of ethnic diversity, leaving structural integration issues unresolved.
What are the main motivations for English teachers coming to South Korea according to the survey?
Respondents primarily cited economic pull factors, such as high salaries and low living costs, combined with the desire for an adventure or the need for international work experience to boost their teaching careers.
How is the perception of "Western" teachers by the local population described?
The study notes a split perception: while teachers are seen as a necessary tool for English education, they are often viewed by segments of society as "outsiders" or even "bizarre spectacles," which hinders deep social integration.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Nora Goerne (Autor:in), 2013, The Korean English Teacher Phenomenon, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/233213
