With increased globalization and growing numbers of overseas Koreans, the need for Korean language learning among overseas Korean children has been increasing. However, due to various practical reasons, adequate education for Korean language learning ...
With increased globalization and growing numbers of overseas Koreans, the need for Korean language learning among overseas Korean children has been increasing. However, due to various practical reasons, adequate education for Korean language learning among overseas Korean children is not readily available. Therefore, this study aims to develop Korean language learning materials specifically designed for home use and educational guidelines to help parents guide their children's education in a more systematic manner, considering the characteristics of elementary school-aged overseas Korean children.
To achieve this, the literature review on Korean language materials for overseas Korean children, home-based Korean language learning, previous studies on literacy skills, and the development of educational guidelines was conducted, followed by the characteristics of overseas Korean children, foundational literacy skills, and children's literature. Survey questionnaires using 5-likert scale and multiple options were conducted among parents living abroad whose children are under the age of 18 and Korean adults who have have lived abroad with their families during the early elementary school years to analyze the needs for developing foundational literacy skills among overseas Korean children.
The main research findings for developing home learning materials and guidelines for enhancing the foundational literacy skills of overseas Korean children are as follows:
First, the primary motivation for Korean language education among overseas Korean children is the cultivation of identity. Second, the majority of Korean language education for overseas Korean children takes place within the home environment. Third, the most significant challenge in Korean language education for overseas Korean children is their inability to focus solely on language learning due to their environment. Fourth, parents in overseas Korean households find difficulties in providing additional learning materials and teaching grammar in Korean language home learning.
Fifth, Korean language education for overseas Korean children requires a broader and more diverse cultural education, incorporating a cross-cultural perspective. Sixth, elementary school-aged overseas Korean children prefer a natural approach to learning Korean as they face academic burdens and concerns about further education. Seventh, parents tend to believe that their children have a better understanding of Korean than they actually do, highlighting the need for tools to assess children's comprehension accurately.
The findings have significant implications for providing a development direction and presenting practical examples of home learning materials and guidelines that are essential for foundational literacy skills, which will contribute to the academic achievement of elementary school-aged overseas Korean children and their parents.