Learning through working: a case study of Chinese college students in South Korea

Abstract

This qualitative case study was designed to provide an understanding of the work experience of Chinese college students in South Korea. A growing number of Chinese students are coming to South Korea for college education, and their aspirations for better work materialize into work experiences in South Korean businesses. In-depth interviews were conducted with five Chinese students to investigate their learning experience at local workplaces. The Chinese students' work experience not only led them to a deeper understanding of local culture and language, but also gave them integral learning within an experiential, situated learning environment.

Keywords:

• Chinese student
• overseas education
• workplace learning
• South Korea
• qualitative case study

Acknowledgement

We would like to thank the three anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments on this paper.

Notes

1. The Korean government is currently pursuing the “Study Korea” project with the goal of attracting 50,000 foreign students by 2010 in order for the country to become an educational hub in Asia. In an attempt to invite academically competent students from around Asia, the government promoted a variety of financial support and academic grants, Korean embassy-mediated coordination, and the triparted network among South Korean government, companies, and universities (J. Lee, 2007; M. Lee, 2006).