earticle

영어

The Korean government piloted the resettlement refugee system in 2015. Since then, seven groups of refugees, mainly from Myanmar, have resettled in Korea. They have been diligently studying the Korean language, having understood the importance of language ability in their former asylum countries. This study explores the experience of resettlement refugees’ language ability enhancement process. The participants of this study are fifteen adult refugees whom the Korean government invited as resettlement refugees. They belong to the fourth group, the first to resettle in Gimpo, unlike the earlier three groups relocated to another town. The ethnography was adopted as a research method, and two cultural themes were discovered: accepting reality and attempting breakthrough. Through the process of language ability development, they have experienced accepting the reality, such as different learning speed, need for help, social isolation, and discrimination. After recognizing the reality, they pursued the breakthrough by positive thinking and strengthening their motivation. The findings of this study indicate several factors that hinder the resettlement refugees’ language ability enhancement. Therefore, this study provides implications for supporting their improvement of language ability and aspiration for independent living.