| The principles and direction of Korean classes as liberal arts for North Korean defectors |
|
Nam-Mee Kim |
| 새터민을 위한 교양국어 수업의 원칙과 방향 |
|
김남미 |
|
|
|
|
| Abstract |
|
As the number of North Korean defectors increases in South Korea, so does the number of North Korean defector students in the universities. However, many students from North Korea have difficulties in adapting to the classes of universities owing to the differences between the South and the North such as the system, the content of education and the gap in education they had during the process of defecting from North Korea. This thesis aims to investigate the present state of the class adaptation of North Korean defectors and seek for ways to help them. In order to do that, concrete research has been conducted through interviews and questionnaires on difficulties for class adaptation.
It transpired that the North Korean defectors have been experiencing difficulties in understanding the vocabulary used in university education. This vocabulary includes general principles and concepts that have to be studied for liberal arts in universities and therefore are essential elements for university adaptation for North Korean defectors. And also they were having difficulties in objective descriptions such as diary or writing tasks. It seems that they have not had enough training for objective or logical descriptions that are essential for university class activities. In addition, they turned out to be having difficulties also in speaking activities such as expressing their own opinions though presentation.
In order to solve the problem, we need to approach it from two points of view. First, the purpose of liberal arts education has to be achieved by including the North Korean defectors in the Korean education for liberal arts studies in general universities. This will bring the effect of learning experience for the defector students to interact and adapt in a majority group. On the other hand, in order to compliment the difficulties experienced by the North Korean defectors, a cooperative process among various parties is necessary. The related parties involve professors, teaching assistants, education centers in school, government and local government.
First of all, the professors and teaching assistants could give various feedbacks and have interviews with the defectors, and by sharing the result with everyone involved and by reflecting the information gathered in future classes, they can supplement the deficient areas of the defector students. Through the process of sharing such feedbacks and interviews with the professor, the teaching assistants can learn proper teaching strategies for the minority group. The operation of special lectures, programs and mentor system supported by educational organizations in school such as lifelong education center or center for teaching and learning, could also help the defector students. Finally, the measures to practically and efficiently improve government support could be added. |
| Key Words:
North Korean defectors, Korean classes as liberal arts, solution for class deficiency, general concepts and values |
|
PDF Links
Full text via DOI
Download Citation
