Choosing Bilingual Education Over English-Only Programs: A Cultural Historical Perspective of Korean Immigrant Parents

• In Event: Critical and Contemporary Perspectives in Cultural Historical Research

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand the decision making of Korean immigrant parents who choose to send their children to a Korean dual language bilingual education program in the United States. Utilizing cultural historical activity theory as a theoretical framework, this study explores the strong motivation and agency of Korean parents as well as the tensions identified in pursuing their goals to raise their children to be bilingual and bicultural. By honoring and valuing the participants’ emic view, this study contributes to scarce research on and with the immigrant communities who chose bilingual programs with less-commonly spoken languages in the U.S.

Author

• Minhye Son, California State University - Dominguez Hills