Enhancing Multicultural Society in South Korea: English Language Curriculum Adaptation for South-East Asian Students at Public Middle School in Incheon

Abstract

This study explores the examination of the English Language curriculum to better cater to the needs of Southeast Asian students in a multicultural context within the specific context of public middle schools in Incheon, South Korea, specifically targeting first-grade middle school students. The significance of this research is heightened by the increasing number of students from multicultural backgrounds, particularly those from Southeast Asia, in the city of Incheon. It involves the themes of diversity and inclusion within the national and local curricula of South Korea, as well as in a specific ESL textbook and its teacher’s guide. Through qualitative content analysis, the study examines the consistency and alignment between the broad objectives of the national curriculum and their specific implementations in the textbook and teacher’s guide. The findings highlight the need for coherence in curricular approaches to diversity and inclusion, providing recommendations to enhance these aspects in English language classrooms.