Parent’s Perception towards Preschool Children’s English Education and their Ways of English Practice

Abstract

This study examined perceptions of early childhood English education among Korean mothers whose children are aged five to seven, and children’s English practice at those ages. The data collected was drawn from seventy-five parents from the survey as well as from in-depth individual interviews with eleven parents, analyzed using grounded theory. The findings displayed that mothers thought English is necessary in Korea. However, they thought mastering Korean should be anterior to English and thus the appropriate age for English was seven, after acquiring Korean. Ironically, however, mothers started their children’s English practice earlier than they would have thought and mothers were involved in their children’s English practice by helping their children to do their homework. In addition, most parents depended on English institutions, private lessons, and kindergarten English programs to support their child’s English learning. This study is expected to delineate the perceptions of Korean mothers with preschool children on English education and the actual ways their children practice English.