Wednesday, April 1 2:15 PM - 3:15 PM
Fromm Hall — 110 - Maier Conference Room
The United States has long been a prominent destination for South Korean students study abroad. In this talk, Dr. Kang explores how social class shapes students’ experience with English during short-term study abroad programs. Drawing on interviews and reflective writings from Korean teacher-education students, the study examines how prior international experiences shape students’ motivations for learning English, beliefs about “ideal” English speakers, and approaches to using the language.
The research shows that even brief stays abroad can spark dynamic engagement with English – intellectually, socially, and emotionally – prompting students to question and, at times, rethink dominant language ideologies. The talk also highlights how these insights connect to the experiences of U.S. students studying abroad, offering a fresh perspective on learning, identity, and global mobility.
Speaker bio:
Hyun-Sook Kang is an Associate Professor of Global Studies in Education in the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her research focuses on language learning and practice in relation to globalization and internationalization. Dr. Kang holds a Ph.D. in Educational Linguistics from the University of Pennsylvania and currently serves as co-editor of the Journal of Language, Identity & Education (Taylor & Francis).