영어의 사회문화적 힘과 이에 대응하는한국 대학생들의 태도에 대한 고찰

Conceptualizing English language teaching as a site of cultural politics, the study aims to explore the meaning of English among college students situated within the larger sociocultural, political, and economic context of contemporary Korea, focusing on the complex ways in which these students respond to the perceived power of English. Working within a qualitative research paradigm, the data was collected through several semi-structured interviews with eleven students and analyzed qualitatively. The findings illustrate that, despite the students’ multifaceted understanding of English as a language for global communication, a tool for cultural exchange, and a familiar language they enjoy learning, English for them, above all, represents a critical competitive edge they must have in order to survive in the unprecedented competition of Korean society. Students’ conceptualization of English as a prerequisite for upward mobility seems to stem largely from their experienced understanding of the power and prestige English stands for in Korea. Experiencing firsthand the socioeconomic and symbolic power of English, the students displayed a complex range of attitudes towards English and Korea's 'English fever.' While several students either celebrate English or take part in current English obsession by expressing their needs to study English more diligently given its powerful status, others showed reactions ranging from critical attitudes to expressing their will to turn the situation to their advantages by achieving high English proficiency. Given the strong will of these students to continue to improve their English skills in order to get ahead and become successful, their oppositional and accommodative attitudes were ideologically limiting, leading them to give in to the power of English in present-day Korea.