본 연구는 미국 공립학교의 다문화 교육 실태를 파악하고 한국 다문화 교육이 올바른 방향으로 활성화되는데 도움을 주기 위한 목적으로 실시되었다. 본 연구에서는 생존, 조화, 변화를 기반으로 한 생태학적인 관점을 바탕으로 한국 학생의 미국 공립학교 교실수업 경험을 고찰하고 한국 다문화 교육에 주는 시사점을 제언하였다. 본 연구는 미국 플로리다 주 Leon County에 위치한 공립학교 5학년에 재학 중인 한국인 학생을 대상으로 실시하였으며 학습 일지, 심층 면담을 바탕으로 자료를 수집하였다. 연구 결과, 미국 다문화 교육의 가장 큰 특징은 사회 전반적인 다문화 교육환경과 모든 국민을 대상으로 실시하는 교육인 것으로 나타났다. 이와 같은 교육환경의 영향으로 학교 및 교실에서의 다문화 교육은 체계적이고 지속적으로 실시되고 있었다. 특히 외국어를 모국어로 사용하는 외국인 학생을 위한 ESL 프로그램은 다문화 학생뿐만이 아니라 언어능력이 떨어지는 일반 학생을 위해서도 실시되고 있었다. 이와 같이 미국 다문화 교육은 특수한 교육이 아니라 모든 국민을 대상으로 하는 복지 프로그램으로 인식되고 있었다. 본 연구를 통하여, 자연스러운 다문화 교육, 함께 어울리는 다문화 교육, 다양한 활동을 통한 다문화 교육, 그리고 ESL와 같은 언어 교육 프로그램은 한국 다문화 교육의 정착을 위해 도입되어야 할 요소라는 사실을 파악할 수 있었다. 특히 학교 교육뿐만이 아니라 사회 전반적인 배려와 인식은 다문화 교육 활성화를 위한 필수 조건이라고 할 수 있다. 그러나 다문화 학생의 학교생활 및 교실수업 적응을 위한 구체적인 정보 안내 및 특별 교육프로그램 미비는 한국 교육현실에도 시사하는 점이 많다고 할 수 있다.

The purpose of this research was to analyze the status of the multicultural education in American public school in order to improve the Korea multicultural education. This research was an attempt to analyze the status of the multicultural education in American public school from an ecological perspective that is based on survival, harmony, and change. Diaries of participant and in-depth interviews were the key data used in the current research. 5th grade Korean student in Leon County, Florida did diaries and in-depth interviews. According to the results, the features of the multicultural education in American were natural education environment and education for all people. The multicultural education becomes effective by these social influences in American public school. Especially, ESL(English as a second language) program was effective not only multicultural education student, but also American students with poor writing in English. Multicultural Education was not special education but public welfare program. Through this research, it was observed that American multicultural education was made up of essential elements such as natural environment, education with the whole people, various activities, and ESL that all works together to keep society. We need practical multicultural education programs like these. Especially, we need careful concern and recognition of the foreigner, which is essential condition for multicultural education. However, there was no specific information or program for multicultural student's adaptation in new school life, especially the early period of new school. These situations are full of suggestion for Korean multicultural education in school.

The purpose of this research was to analyze the status of the multicultural education in American public school in order to improve the Korea multicultural education. This research was an attempt to analyze the status of the multicultural education in American public school from an ecological perspective that is based on survival, harmony, and change. Diaries of participant and in-depth interviews were the key data used in the current research. 5th grade Korean student in Leon County, Florida did diaries and in-depth interviews. According to the results, the features of the multicultural education in American were natural education environment and education for all people. The multicultural education becomes effective by these social influences in American public school. Especially, ESL(English as a second language) program was effective not only multicultural education student, but also American students with poor writing in English. Multicultural Education was not special education but public welfare program. Through this research, it was observed that American multicultural education was made up of essential elements such as natural environment, education with the whole people, various activities, and ESL that all works together to keep society. We need practical multicultural education programs like these. Especially, we need careful concern and recognition of the foreigner, which is essential condition for multicultural education. However, there was no specific information or program for multicultural student's adaptation in new school life, especially the early period of new school. These situations are full of suggestion for Korean multicultural education in school.

classroom instruction, multicultural education, teaching-learning method, ecological perspective