Understanding the Importance of English Education in South Korea and Exploring the Reasons Why South Korean Students Come to a University in the Midwest

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University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Educational Administration: Theses, Dissertations,
and Student Research
Educational Administration, Department of
Spring 5-2014
Understanding the Importance of English
Education in South Korea and Exploring the
Reasons Why South Korean Students Come to a
University in the Midwest
Jaekeun Cho
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [e-mail]
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Cho, Jaekeun, "Understanding the Importance of English Education in South Korea and Exploring the Reasons Why South Korean
Students Come to a University in the Midwest" (2014). Educational Administration: Theses, Dissertations, and Student Research. 170.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cehsedaddiss/170

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Understanding the Importance of English Education in South Korea and Exploring the 
Reasons Why South Korean Students Come to a University in the Midwest
by 
Jaekeun Cho 
A THESIS 
Presented to the Faculty of
The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska
In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements 
For the Degree of Master of Arts 
Major: Educational Administration 
Under Supervision of Professor Miles Bryant 
Lincoln, Nebraska 
May, 2014

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Understanding the Importance of English Education in South Korea and Exploring the 
Reasons Why South Korean Students Come to a University in the Midwest
Jaekeun Cho, M.A. 
University of Nebraska, 2014 
Adviser: Miles T. Bryant 
The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions held by South Korean 
students who study at the University of Nebraska at Kearney (UNK) of the benefits and 
values of studying English language. Furthermore, the researcher found what kinds of 
challenges Korean students encounter both before they come to UNK and after they come 
to UNK. The following studies were discussed in the literature review: (a) the reasons 
why international students come to America; (b) the perspectives and experiences of 
studying English at American colleges and universities; (c) “push” and “pull” factors 
which influence the decision making process for international students; and (d) the value 
of English-medium courses in Korean colleges.
A sample of UNK Korean students (30 interviewees) was chosen. The researcher 
used the stratified sampling technique and the semi-structure interviews to collect the 
data.
This study found the following results: (a) South Korean students significantly 
focus on achieving a high level of English competency; (b) South Korean students 
especially lack English speaking and writing skills; (c) South Korean students devalue the 

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English educational environment in Korea, but value the English educational 
environment in America; (d) the majority of the research study’s interviewees decided to 
come to UNK because of the affordable tuition and the transferable credit hours back to 
their home universities in Korea; (e) many of the research study’s interviewees felt 
uncomfortable building relationships with Americans; and (f) no difference was found 
based on gender or duration of the study abroad program.
Recommendations for future research included: 1) developing English speaking 
skills in Korean students needs more careful; 2) greater attention to how Korean student 
can build relationships with American cultures and students by American universities 
needs to be studied; and 3) non-degree seeking students need more international 
programming to use their limited time in the USA learning English more efficiently.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
At the beginning, I would like to say a lot of thanks to my Korean family and 
American family, especially Greg and Laurie, who have strongly supported me to live in 
Kearney, NE. I really appreciate Miles T. Bryant being my graduate school adviser, and 
because of his guidance, I was able to enjoyably learn a new area of study, higher 
education administration, and finish this thesis. Furthermore, I am graciously thankful to 
Dr. Kenny who is my current supervisor at UNK because if he did not support me to stay 
at UNK, I would not be able to participate in this program and have this kind of privilege.
While I am writing this thesis, my father has not only fought against his physical 
health problem for over 3 years, but my mother has also strongly supported my dad to 
live longer despite his sickness. In spite of my family’s difficult situation, all of my 
Korean family, my parents, two older sisters, my two brother-in-laws, and four nieces, 
have kept cheering me on to finish this program and stay in the United States. Because of 
their loving support, I have successfully accomplished a great amount of achievements 
while I live in Nebraska.
Many South Korean students have also helped me conduct this research study, so 
I really appreciate their support and help. Furthermore, I am so thankful that Heather 
Breight was able to help me revise this thesis as an English writing tutor at UNK.
I always feel sorry for my Korean family because I have lived in America for over 
5 years; especially, in the circumstance of my father’s illness. Again, I cannot say how 
much I appreciate all my family, friends, advisers, colleagues, and so forth. Without their 
help and support, I would not have been able to come this far.

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