Out of the book and into the classroom: The experiences of Korean social studies pre-service teachers in an international teaching practicum in the United States

ABSTRACT

Despite the growing interest and importance of pre-service teachers’ cross-cultural experiences, a review of the literature shows that few studies have discussed the international teaching practicum experiences of pre-service teachers from Asian countries. Bridging this gap, this qualitative case study examined the perceptions and experiences of 15 Korean social studies pre-service teachers who participated in an international teaching practicum in the United States. The findings of the study demonstrated that although participants encountered difficulties in speaking a foreign language and adjusting to a different culture, they also gained confidence and self-efficacy by negotiating and actively participating in the teaching and learning process. This international teaching practicum also helped participants promote their own understanding of multiculturalism and their different perspectives of the teachers’ roles, teaching pedagogies, and local education systems. This study offers implications for future multicultural professional development in teacher education and contributes to developing a body of research and scholarship on international teaching practicums from Asian contexts that have, to date, been largely underexplored.

KEYWORDS:

• Cross-cultural experiences
• international teaching practicum
• multicultural teacher education
• social studies pre-service teachers

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yeji Kim

Yeji Kim is a Ph.D. student in social studies education at Teachers College, Columbia University. Her research interests include global citizenship education, multicultural education, teacher education, and social studies curricula. She currently serves as an adjunct instructor for Hunter College and a student teacher supervisor for Teachers College, Columbia University.

Minsik Choi

Minsik Choi is a professor in the department of social studies education and interdisciplinary behavioral socio-economics graduate program at Ewha Womans University. His major research interests include labor economic issues and experimental economics, as well as economics education. He is also serving as a member of the advisory board for the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family in South Korea.