“Where Everyone Looks Like Them”: A Weekend Korean Language School as Safe Space

• In Event: Listening to All Voices: The Experiences of Asian Americans

Abstract

This paper explores the roles of a weekend Korean language school in a mid-sized Midwestern city. Drawing from racial identity development and cultural capital theories, the author finds that the language school occupies diverse roles, many of which are shaped and informed by the predominantly White context. The author discusses in depth the school’s role as a safe space for Korean children against the assimilative forces of their schools and broader community. The findings suggest that heritage language schools are important community-based educative spaces that help children in their communities form strong positive racial and cultural identities.

Author

• Eujin Park, University of Wisconsin - Madison