IKEN Foundation

International Korean Educators Network is founded on establishing a systematic support network of educating our future generation of Korean heritage students by strengthening their identity as Koreans through Korean language and cultural education as productive, global citizens of the future.

IKEN will take an active role in supporting educators of Korean language and culture in different types of schools such as Korean Dual Language Program, Korean language classes as a foreign language in secondary schools, and Korean community language schools in the world to share a common pedagogy in positively influencing the future generation.

This objective is made possible with the active support of Korean policy makers and community partners by promoting the Korean language as a world language and Korean cultural contents such as K-POP.

Establishment of IKEN

1. Facts about Korean Dual Language Program

KDLP was established in 1992 in LAUSD as one of the options under Blingual Education Program.

KDLP delivers Korean and English instructions from Kindergarten to 12th grade with high expectation of students in all academic areas. Main objective of KDLP is to promote complete biliteracy.

KDLP is not only for Korean heritage students but also for non-Korean heritage students who can expect to learn to be bilingual but also bicultural. While students are learning about Korean roots, Korean heritage students will develop not only their self identity but also learn to appreciate multiculturalism and globalization.

2. Understanding the importance of early education of Korean language

Early language education is crucial in effective language acquisition.

Students who participate in KDLP from kindergarten have better chances of acquiring native-like languages compare to those starting language education later in life.

3. Facts about KDLP Educators

- Certificated educators working in US public school
- 1.5 generation who are fluent in both Korean and English
- Technology proficient new generation of educators

4. Challenges of decrease in educational funding

- Many of qualified KDLP educators are in danger of losing their teaching positions due to global economy not at its best.
- Need for additional support of KDLP from a private entity/organization

5. Need for a new organization with distinctive goal

While recognizing the successes of all organizations which may share the similar vision, such pre-existing organizations may not have full comprehension of KDLP to amply advocate for the program.

Goals of IKEN

As a non-profit organization, IKEN will foster and support the educators and their students and parents in the Korean Dual Language program and Korean language classes in public/private schools in the United States.

IKEN understands the critical importance of early language education in effective second language acquisition so that IKEN has developed the Korean Online Contents (K-12th level) aligned Common Core State Standards and Korean National Standards and to focus its resources to reach out to parents to become active partners along with students in efforts to have Advanced Placement (AP) Korean Language in U.S. high schools.

IKEN educators provide second generation Korean heritage students with opportunities to master Korean language, culture, and self identity while providing non-Korean students with vast opportunities to appreciate Korean culture. These teachers will foster healthy competition among the young leaders of tomorrow who will build stronger bridges of linguistic and cultural understanding throughout the world.

IKEN educators share lessons and materials for Korean language and cultural content from their classrooms via the IKEN platform and will continue to network between current KDLP teachers, college professors, and other educators all over the world who are dedicated to promote education about Korea for the next generations.

IKEN Program Focus

IKEN Partners

Asian Pacific & Other Language Office (APOLO)

Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD)

Korean Education Center Los Angeles (KECLA)

Korean Cultural Center Los Angeles (KCCLA)

Korea Academy for Educators (KAFE)

Foundation for Korean Language and Culture (FKLC)

K-12 Korean Language Teachers Association in USA-KLTA-USA

Korean-American Educators Alliance (KAEA)

American Association of Teachers of Korean (AATK)

Korean American Education Foundation, Inc.

Korean School Association of America

National Association for Korean Schools

Korean Institute of Southern California

IKEN 사업의 파급효과

한국어와 한국문화를 미국 공립학교 정규프로그램 (KDLP)에서 한국인 2세들과 외국인 학생을 대상으로 유치원 부터 고등학교까지 가르침으로써, 한국의 국가브랜드의 향상과 이미지 제고의 파급효과를 가져 옴.

IKEN의 전자책 사업과 한국어듀얼프로그램 지원사업은 한글과 한국문화 컨텐츠의 세계화와 2세들의 뿌리교육, AP KOREAN 추진 등 역사적으로 중차대한 사업의 전초적인 역할을 할 수 있음.

IKEN이 개발하는 전자책은 한국어 교사들이 가르쳐야 할 내용들과 학생들의 흥미를 유발시키는 내용들을 잘 조합한 재미있는 교재가 될 것임.

전자책의 기대효과는 한국어와 한국문회에 대한 흥미를 유발하여 한국어반을 활성화시키며, 궁극적으로 AP KOREAN 추진의 기초석 마련이 될 것임.

IKEN 플랫폼을 방문하여 교재공유, 의견교환이 일어나게 됨으로써, 저절로 Education Network가 형성되어 한국어 보급과 한국문화컨텐츠의 세계화가 자연스럽게 형성될 것임.

한국어듀얼프로그램을 지원 확장하는 사업은 한국어 교육이 미국 공립학교에서 하나의 주류로서 자리매김을 할 수 있도록 지원하는 매우 귀 중한 사업임.

한국어 습득에 있어서 조기교육의 중요성을 학부모들에게 인식시키고, 한 학생이 3개 국어 (영어 + 한국어 + 다른 언어) 를 습득하여 글로벌 시대에 경쟁력을 가진 한인 2세들로 키움으로써 AP Korean의 기초석을 다짐.

한국어 듀얼프로그램을 가주 내 다른지역이나 타주에개설하여 한국어 교육의 확장을 모색함. 이 사업은 정부 지원이 절대적으로 필요한 사업임.

한국의 영어몰입교육 (English Immersion Program)과 연계하여 교사연수 프로그램을 개발 확산함.

KDLP교사들과 한국 공립학교의 영어교사들과 워크샵, 세미나, 또는 교사교환 프로그램 (Teacher Exchange Program) 을 통하여 교수방법, 교재등을 공유, 교환하는 네트워크를 형성함.

KDLP 학부모회(PTA) 를 결성하고 학부모 세미나등을 통하여 한국어 확대를 계몽하여 AP Korean을 향한 전초기지를 마련함.

IKEN 플랫폼이 교사, 학부모, 학생들의 네트워크, 상호교류 및 친목의 공간을 제공할 수 있음.

학생교류사업의 파급효과는 학생들의 시야를 넓히고 세계화에 부응하는 세계적인 지도자들을 양성하는 것임.

장학사업을 통하여 차세대 지도자들을 발굴, 양성하여 미국 주류사회에 한국인 2세들이 더 많이 진출하여 두 나라의 교량 역할을 담당하는 지도자를 배출할 것임.

태권도를 전 미주에 보급시킴으로써, 한국스포츠와 한류의 확산을 꾀하며 한국 브랜드의 신장을 기대함.

결론적으로 IKEN의 모든 사업들은 소요경비 대비 파급 효과가 매우 높은 귀중한 사업들임을 확신함.

IKEN Contact

680 Wilshire Place, Suite 401

Los Angeles, CA 90005

(4th Floor at Korean Education Center Los Angeles)

Tel: 213.389.2133

Fax: 213.389.2133

E-mail: sungkim27@hotmail.com