August 2008

 

Dr. Suhyun Suh, an associate professor in Auburn University's College of Education, knows firsthand how it feels to come to the United States with limited English skills. Suh's personal struggle as a foreigner coming from Korea in 1982 inspired her to research the issues and challenges Korean-Americans face while adjusting to life in a new country. Collaboration with Auburn College of Liberal Arts   faculty will improve the quality of life for other Koreans who will soon call East Alabama "home."

Through her research as a faculty member in the Department of Special Education, Rehabilitation, Counseling/School Psychology, Suh found that when there is inadequate support for newcomers, both children and parents are at risk of experiencing emotional, psychological and social hardships. Of particular concern, from an educational standpoint, is that this same lack of support can lead to academic difficulties — all of which led to the creation of the Auburn-Opelika Summer School  .

Suh, along with program co-director Dr. Changhoon Jung, an associate professor of political science, discovered the need for such a program in the local community and began collaborating about the summer school's development in January 2008. Sending his children to a similar program in Montgomery last summer motivated Jung to develop a program for international families in the Auburn-Opelika area.

The co-directors found that more than 200 Korean students attended public schools in Auburn, Opelika and the surrounding areas. Additional increases in the local Korean population are expected as a result of new Hyundai and Kia automobile factories, and their associated parts suppliers, locating in Central Alabama and West Georgia.

Jung and Suh researched how to help international families become accustomed to life in the United States.

"We conducted a needs assessment to evaluate the actual needs of Korean families," Suh said. "The assessment results confirmed the extensive needs to develop such a program.  Based on the results, English language instruction—including writing, grammar and reading—for both Korean students and their parents, and SAT prep classes, were identified as the areas for special assistance over the time when regular public schools are off during the summer."

Based at Jeter Primary School in Opelika, the program assisted international parents and students by promoting a sense of well-being and self-efficacy through the development of English language skills and the recognition of community support. Further, it allowed the 104 participants, 20 of whom were parents, to maximize their potential to become productive and contributing members of society.

"In addition, Korean families in general will feel at home with the support that they have in relation to their children's education and their own English language development opportunity," Suh said. "In the long run, the Korean children and families will grow into community members well-adjusted to the new environment and contribute to the local community that they currently belong, as well as to the state in the future.  Korean employees working at automobile corporations will be more productive at work along with moderate and high level of life satisfaction of their family members with their current lives in this area."

International families are not the only beneficiaries of the program. Twelve American educational professionals who hold a professional education certificate in early education, English or a closely related subject had the opportunity for summer employment. Further, the program served as a placement for internship or service learning students during the summer, a time when such opportunities are typically scarce.

Several individuals and organizations were instrumental in making the program a reality.  The College of Education offered support by providing a means of program evaluation.  With the college's financial contribution, Suh was able to purchase assessment inventories for program pre-and post-tests. The cities of Auburn and Opelika each donated $5,000 to the summer school, as did the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority. The Auburn-Opelika Korean Church and the Alabama Economic Development at Auburn University also made financial contributions to the program, as well as several personal donors. Finally, an in-kind contribution was made by the Opelika public school system by offering the Jeter Primary School facility for use by the program.

For more information on the Auburn-Opelika Summer School, please visit www.auburnopelikasummerschool.org  .