Maternal beliefs in children’s bilingualism: A case study on Korean mothers in the United States

Abstract

This study examined maternal beliefs in children`s bilingualism. Five Korean mothers who were raising young bilingual children in the United States were interviewed. The findings in this study showed that the Korean mothers believed in children`s bilingualism had positive values. They perceived Korean- English bilingualism as a positive influence on children`s well-being, children`s emotional makeup with their family, and children`s educational development. They played a critical role in teaching Korean in various ways based on their positive beliefs. However, they worked individually on their children`s bilingual education and had difficulty in receiving support from the school or the community. They needed support from the school system to maintain their beliefs. The results of the study suggested that American mainstream schools should work together with parents from minority groups and foster a supportive environment for Korean-English bilingual children.