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Monash Korean Studies Seminar Series 2025: "Non-native Korean Speaking Teachers: The Elephant in the Room of Korean Language Education"

Talk from Nicola Fraschini (University of Melbourne)

Date & Time: 16th October, 3-4pm (Mel time)

Venue: Room JG04, 33 Innovation Walk, Monash Clayton VIC 3168

Abstract: 

During the past two decades, the field of Korean language education has been

quantitatively and qualitatively boosted by several policies and initiatives introduced by Korean governmental institutions in light of the growing interest towards learning the Korean language in both domestic and overseas contexts. While, on the one hand, such policies provided a formal recognition of the language teaching profession, on the other hand, affected by the narrative of Koreaness, they have almost completely ignored the expertise of non-native Korean speaking teachers (NNKSTs) and their needs. This presentation provides an analysis of the main policies and initiatives of the past 20 years and their relevance for the training of Korean language teachers in general and NNKSTs in particular. Then, through a consideration of the author’s research conducted on NNKSTs’ competencies, it advocates for more recognition of NNKSTs’ expertise and for the adoption of a dynamic model of teacher competencies that could leverage on NNKSTs’ context knowledge to support the development of Korean language learning in global contexts.

Bio: 

Nicola Fraschini is Senior Lecturer in Korean Studies and Director of the Global

Korea Research Hub at the University of Melbourne. His research focuses on

individual differences in Korean language teaching and learning, and on the

application of Q methodology to language research. He is co-editor of the volumes Advancing language research through Q methodology (2024, Multilingual Matters), Enabling learning: Language teaching for Australian universities (2024, ANU Press), Innovative methods in Korean language teaching (2025, Routledge), and The Korean case for youth language learning (2026, Routledge).

Contact person: Sandy Nguyen (Sandy.nguyen1@monash.edu)