여성 결혼이민자의 문해교육 경험이 생활 적응 과정에 미치는 영향

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect and meaning of literacy education on married female immigrants as they are faced with various problems adjusting to their lives in Korea. The study participants were six married female immigrants who were also literacy education participants at P. Education Center in Dongdaemun-gu district, Seoul. Furthermore, the study method involved in-depth interviews and participant observation through open-ended questions which are a form of qualitative research. According to the study results, the effect of literacy education on married female immigrants is as follows: Literacy education involves not only the acquisition of the ability to read and write, but also provides opportunities for married female immigrants to get together to understand Korean culture during the learning process. Literacy education allowed these women to get together and make new friends through the exchange of thoughts. Many changes have occurred in family relationships, social participation, self-confidence in life, positive thinking, and their social status; however, the biggest change existed in their relationships with children and their roles in children’s education. These women obtained the ‘confidence’ to believe that they can participate socially as they learned the Korean language. One of the participants became not only interested in her own child’s education, but even capable of teaching the child on her own. Moreover, literacy education helped these women to understand their children better through longer conversations with them.