"Only English Counts": the impact of English hegemony on South-Korean athletes. Issue 3 (12th August 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brown, Clara Lee; Ward, Natalia; Nam, Benjamin H.
• Is Part Of: International journal of comparative education and development. Volume 21:Issue 3(2019)
• Page Start: 222
• Page End: 235
• Publication Date: 2019-08-12
• Subjects: South Korea -- Athlete career development -- English hegemony -- Linguistic capital; Comparative education -- Periodicals; Education -- Periodicals; 370.9
• DOI: 10.1108/IJCED-01-2019-0007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2396-7404

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose: While conceived to examine key factors affecting post-retirement career advancement of retired elite athletes in South Korea, the purpose of this paper is to report how English, as a de facto global lingua franca, functions as a powerful gatekeeper in the sports administration field. Design/methodology/approach: Interpreted through the lens of Bourdieu's linguistic capital and Gramsci's hegemony of language, the present study draws on content analysis of semi-structured individual interviews, as well as focus group interviews, conducted with thirty former South Korean elite athletes. Findings: Based on the data analysis, systematic bias toward athletes was uncovered, privileging English as the single determining factor for employment. Furthermore, the educational implications for adult learners of English as a Foreign or English an Additional Language reveal unrealistic expectations of top–down language policies. Originality/value: Perspectives of athlete participants, an underrepresented group in educational research, within the South Korean globalization context shed critical light on the pervasive aspects of English hegemony and its unexamined dimensions.