Abstract (300 words maximum)
Health Family Support Centers in South Korea play a pivotal role in promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism in South Korea that practices Korean-only assimilation policies. With an increased influx of multicultural immigrants, these centers provide assistance and services to immigrants. These centers also serve as a hub for both immigrants who have gained proficiency in the Korean language and culture also work there as bilingual coaches and translators, and dedicated Koreans fostering cultural harmony. Thus, it is crucial to examine experiences and perspectives of employees striving for immigrant equity in South Korea at these centers.
This study explores the perspectives and experiences of employees in Health Family Support Centers across South Korea, specifically eight bilingual coaches in different cities and five government officials in the northwest region of Seoul. Data was collected through individual interviews lasting 70 to 120 minutes with the bilingual coaches, originating from countries like China, Japan, and Vietnam, along with a 130-minute focus group interview with government officials. It aims to understand how these experiences contribute to our knowledge of challenges and opportunities in promoting equity for immigrants and implications for policies related to multilingualism and multiculturalism in ethnolinguistic minority family contexts.
Thematic coding in our qualitative analysis revealed that the coaches found their work rewarding but faced challenges like heavy caseloads, lack of early childhood education expertise, and coaching in incompetent languages. Korean government officials, drawing on their experiences as directors, noted issues such as insufficient resources including funds for employees, heavy caseloads with both proficient and non-proficient tasks, employee numbers, awareness, and the need to support immigrant mothers. This research has broader implications for policies and programs supporting ethnolinguistic minority families and children in promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism beyond South Korea.
Academic department under which the project should be listed
BCOE - Inclusive Education
Primary Investigator (PI) Name
Jayoung Choi
Advancements in South Korea's Multilingual and Multicultural Initiatives: Perspectives from Bilingual Immigrant Coaches and Korean Government Officials working in Health Family Support Centers
Health Family Support Centers in South Korea play a pivotal role in promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism in South Korea that practices Korean-only assimilation policies. With an increased influx of multicultural immigrants, these centers provide assistance and services to immigrants. These centers also serve as a hub for both immigrants who have gained proficiency in the Korean language and culture also work there as bilingual coaches and translators, and dedicated Koreans fostering cultural harmony. Thus, it is crucial to examine experiences and perspectives of employees striving for immigrant equity in South Korea at these centers.
This study explores the perspectives and experiences of employees in Health Family Support Centers across South Korea, specifically eight bilingual coaches in different cities and five government officials in the northwest region of Seoul. Data was collected through individual interviews lasting 70 to 120 minutes with the bilingual coaches, originating from countries like China, Japan, and Vietnam, along with a 130-minute focus group interview with government officials. It aims to understand how these experiences contribute to our knowledge of challenges and opportunities in promoting equity for immigrants and implications for policies related to multilingualism and multiculturalism in ethnolinguistic minority family contexts.
Thematic coding in our qualitative analysis revealed that the coaches found their work rewarding but faced challenges like heavy caseloads, lack of early childhood education expertise, and coaching in incompetent languages. Korean government officials, drawing on their experiences as directors, noted issues such as insufficient resources including funds for employees, heavy caseloads with both proficient and non-proficient tasks, employee numbers, awareness, and the need to support immigrant mothers. This research has broader implications for policies and programs supporting ethnolinguistic minority families and children in promoting multilingualism and multiculturalism beyond South Korea.