초록 열기/닫기 버튼
This study presents the case of Hoon, a 4-year-old Korean immigrant boy and his initial adjustment to an American preschool, by focusing his interactions with peers at playtime in relation to peer culture. Data were collected for four months through participatory observations during in-class playtime and interviews with the boy’s mother and teacher. The findings revealed that children in the classroom played according to a peer culture and the rules in each play center. This study found that Hoon’s different interactions with his peers in each center reflected his understanding of the peer culture, thus demonstrating the possibility of a play center with a peer culture that helps an immigrant child’s positive peer interactions. The study suggests that teachers should (a) understand peer culture and its effects on minority children, and (b) reflect on their practices to avoid practices that minimize immigrant children’s agency.
