The present study targets 72 participants, who are parents of middle and high school students regarding their perceptions of English private education through surveys and interviews. Additionally, this study analyzed and compared the differences in the perceptions between parents of middle and high school students and those between mothers and fathers.

Parents of middle and high school students felt that their English ability could be competitive by the international community, and that they would be treated well if they were good. Also, they considered the purpose of studying the English language was to communicate with foreigners, speaking skills were the most important to be considered. Most parents acknowledged that the best age for children to start their English education was in elementary level, yet through interviews it was discovered that students of parents started English education at much earlier age. The type of education preferred by parents was academies, since it can support the English education of school. In contrast, the main reason why some parents were not sending their kids to private education was that their children refused to. There were few parents that were not satisfied with the costs of sending their children to private education but most were satisfied with the outcome of improving their children’ grades, and agreed that the environment at these private education was far superior than that provided at schools. On the other hand, the parents found it much more difficult to engage in private education as their children’s learning content increased, also they believed that a qualified instructor would need to have abundant knowledge in their field as well as diversity in teaching methods.

For parents with high school students who are about to enter college preferred school grades to speaking skills. So, they invested in tutoring, leading to a huge burden in costs when compared to middle school parents. Most of the high school students, since some students received private lessons, they attended English classes as small group. The person who decides whether or not to participate in private education thought that middle school parents were students, but high school students were cooperative and could find the difference. Parents of middle school students believed that an English language educator must not only be qualified in the language but also have the interest and care towards children, but for high school parents, having to prioritize grades over anything else, believed that apart from qualifications, the sense of responsibility was equally important.

Fathers were aware of the importance of English grades yet the final word in making decisions regarding the private education was entirely the mothers. Also, at home it was discovered the importance of English was emphasized in greater strength by fathers, but teaching methods were more familiar to the mothers, and mothers were found to be more action oriented regarding private education.

 

한은지 Chosun University

조선대학교 일반대학원 영어교육 전공 박사과정 한은지.

사교육 시장에서 영어를 가르치고 있으며, 현장의 목소리와 니즈를 파악하고자 이와 같은 주제로 논문을 설계하고 연구를 진행하였습니다. 더 나은 영어교육을 위해 그리고 실제 교육 환경에 필요한 연구를 진행하고자 힘쓰고 있습니다.

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김경자

조선대 영어교육과 교수

관심분야: L2 학습동기를 비롯한 제 2언어 습득이론 및 연구방법론

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