Don Moen

Abstract

This paper looks at the Korean language classroom as a cultural hybrid of Korean and perceived American culture. It is based around the idea of the language classroom as a subculture. Through discussions of classroom geography, Confucianism, and identity construction, the paper concludes that this hybrid subculture offers an opportunity to explore new cultural identities within a subculture without having to join subcultural groups in normal life. The paper concludes this is significant since teachers need to be prepared with accurate intercultural expectations. The paper offers that more empirical research in specific teacher/student and student/student relationships is needed, as well as looking at other cultures to see if classroom cultural hybridity is unique to Korea.

Key words: intercultural,communication, Korean, second language teaching, TESL, teaching English as a foreign language, TEFL, teaching English to speakers of other languages, TESOL, ethnicity, identity, hybrid, culture, classroom, subculture.