KAQI

clicks	1795
Vol (number)	1(2)
title	Climax: Qualitative Study on Hakwon Experiences of High School Students
author(s)	Jaeseong Jo(Hanyang University)/Seongho Choi(Chinju National University of Education)
Keywords	hakwon, high school, high school student, qualitative study, learning experience
Abstract	The purpose of this study is to investigate influence of hakwon on high school students. Two research problems were set to define the research direction. First, this study investigated how the contents of hakwon courses in Korea changed as high school students advanced into a higher grade. The researcher found that students chose different hakwon by their grade level and figured there had to be a reason. With this understanding, firstly, this study intended to discover and interpret elements of changes in school curriculum, class, and college entrance examination system in connection to hakwon. Secondly, the meaning of hakwon to Korean high school students was investigated. The summary of results of this study is as follows. High school students’ experience with hakwon was summarized into three large groups by grade level. First, first grade high school students wanted to prepare for internal school exams which is becoming increasingly important and difficult and they wanted to concentrate on math and English, the key subjects in high school education. Secondly, to second grade high school students, hakwon was a place where they can prepare for KSAT and major subjects they are about to learn in earnest. Specially, it was meaningful since administrative dilemma of high school curriculum triggered by KSAT was resolved. Thirdly, third grade high school students choose EBS KSAT lecture to get high scores in KSAT and this changed paradigm of KSAT studies. In the meantime, significance of hakwon education perceived by high school students was classified into four main categories. First, high school students understood hakwon as an institute to provide customized learning to better meet their own situation and necessities. Second, students perceived hakwon as an institute with the greatest influence and responsibility for high school records and college entrance examination, the most important factors in their lives in the moment. Third, highschool students considered hakwon as a resting place where they can have conversation about themselves and get practical help. This means they saw hakwon is a place where they could have close relationship with their peer students both in learning and personal life. Fourth, experiences in hakwon tended to undermine students’ own learning abilities. In the long run it seems necessary to ensure education to help students find their goals and grow problem-solving ability by searching for answers on their own. Whether it is positive or negative, it is becoming an undeniable fact that high school students are getting a lot of help for college entrance through hakwon education. Hakwon is exploiting the chance and providing satisfactory services for students. Also, the chance is, to some extent, created by schools. Of course, school system is not the only factor that created the loophole and gave the change to hakwon since teaching knowledge and preparing for college entrance exam are not the fundamental goals of school system. However, schools must be changed. Schools need to take measures to correct misconception and misunderstanding on hakwon and need to learn educational method and practical system of hakwon and apply them in schools. This study is expected to provide opportunities for this process to be put into practice.
file	질적탐구논문집_1권_2호_(10월)-p.57-97.pdf