Becoming Global Citizens through Global Literature: A Case Study of English Teacher Candidates in Korea

Abstract

This study investigates the ways in which English teacher candidates in Korea can cultivate global citizenship through reading and responding to global literature. While reading Kashmira Sheth’s Keeping Corner, a story of a young Indian girl navigating her life as a widow, they were invited to build their own intercultural understanding through participating in various critical literacy activities. Employing a qualitative research method, this study analyzes the texts that they produced during the class. The findings reveal that through self-reflexivity they were able to move beyond a surfacelevel conceptualization of culture usually represented as specific artifacts or traditional practices and then recognize the dynamic factors that play a role in constructing their cultural identities. In addition, they were able to make personal, local, and global relevance and significance and thereby identify some issues that local and global communities are currently facing. Although many raised their awareness on global citizenship by deconstructing the self-other dichotomy and recognizing multifaceted aspects of one’s lived experience, the study also identifies some challenges in unraveling deeply rooted ideologies and superiority, as well as apathy toward local and global relevance and significance in a one-semester course. Finally, this study calls for more integration of global citizenship education into teacher education programs.