Adjustment problems of Korean students in a private high school: A proposed group guidance program

This study looked into the differences in cultural adjustment according to gender, living arrangement, language proficiency and length of residence in the Philippines of 118 Korean Upper School students in a private International School. It also looked into the pressing problems and concerns of these students and the adjustment strategies that they used. The study was composed of two phases that made use of both quantitative and qualitative methods of research. The First Phase utilized a Cultural Adjustment Scale in order to explore the differences between various factors (gender, length of residence, language proficiency and living arrangement) and cultural adjustment. For the Second Phase, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were conducted with students who scored High and Low on the Cultural Adjustment Scale. The FGDs yielded prevalent themes that served as the basis for the Group Guidance Program that was developed. The results of the study showed that there exist significant differences in school-related concerns in adjustment based on gender and length of residence. Similarly, there is a significant difference in adjustment to general living conditions based on living arrangement. On the other hand, cultural adjustment among groups based on language proficiency does not have statistical difference. With regards to the analysis of the data gathered from the Focus Group Discussions, the pressing adjustment concerns of Korean students are the following: orientation about the way of life in both the Philippines and in school appreciation and understanding of the cultural similarities and differences of Philippines and South Korea development of appropriate social skills discovery and development of their various interests and career awareness